Burden of Proof burdenofproofpod
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- True Crime
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Burden of Proof is a true crime podcast run by two paralegals with a generation gap. Join Elysia and Savannah as they tell each other true crime stories with a focus on what happens AFTER the criminals get caught!
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Case Number 90: Dana Sue Gray, The Serial Shopaholic
After a rocky childhood, Dana faced losing her Mother to cancer at the young age of 14. Despite getting kicked out by her Father and Stepmother at 16, Dana went on to graduate high school and attend college to pursue a career in nursing. Inspired by the nurses who took care of her Mother, she wanted to help others in such a time of need.
Unfortunately, Dana's addictions caused her life to come crashing down and within months of losing her nursing job, she began taking lives instead of saving them. She targeted elderly women who lived alone mostly. She may have gotten away with it longer had it not been for one victim who survived. Dana made the mistake of attacking a woman who worked at an antique shop who was younger and stronger than the other victims. When detectives connected the crimes, it wasn't long before they identified her.
Tune in as Savannah gives an insightful take on this tragic serial killer's life and Elysia is somehow both speechless and not surprised by Dana's audacity.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
“To Die For” by Kathy Braidhill
Addicted to Luxury: The Pampered Killer By Katherine Ramsland
“Dana Sue Gray” Parts One and Two on Serial Killers Podcast
https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/women/dana_sue_gray/9.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Wk0bu04mg
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181 -
Case Number 89: The Lady in the Barrel
When Ron Cohen and his family tried to sell their Long Island, New York home, the buyers requested they clear out everything in a crawl space that had been used for storage. This included an industrial barrel that had been there since the Cohen family had bought the house 10 years prior.
This reasonable request turned into a complete nightmare. When forced to open the barrel in an attempt to lighten its weight, Ron also opened an investigation into a 30 year old murder. Her name was Reyna Marroquin and she had been missing since 1968.
Tune in as Elysia details the astounding lengths her murderer DID NOT go to to hide her body but still got away with it. Meanwhile, Savannah is on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Buried in the Backyard: Season 1, Episode 3
https://nypost.com/1999/09/30/cops-solve-mystery-of-mummified-body/
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/14/nyregion/body-in-barrel-is-believed-to-be-woman-who-vanished-in-69.html
https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/reyna-marroquin/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193062199/howard_burton-elkins
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215199418/reyna_angelica-marroquin/photo
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2022/exc/article-35/837-f-2/#:~:text=The%20division%20shall%20transmit%20the,injury%2C%20or%20may%20be%20a
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-52/section-52-17b-213/#:~:text=b.,primary%20responsibility%20over%20the%20investigation.
https://lauthmissingpersons.com/history-of-missing-persons-law-in-the-united-states/
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6639683&GUID=049FEC8A-3019-4AA0-9892-E94C2CAA792B
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-missing-bipoc-women-and-girls-task-force/
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
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Case Number 88: The Corpsewood Manor Murders
Charles Scudder and his partner, Joseph Odom, moved to the town of Trion, Georgia to escape the hustle and bustle of city life in Chicago and live on their own terms. Many in the town were not happy with the couple's arrival due to their unorthodox lifestyle. Eventually acceptance grew when they realized Charles and Joseph had no ill intention toward anyone.
Some of the towns people even became friends with the couple whether they enjoyed the couples' company, attended parties or partook in Charles' homemade wine. It was a peaceful life for six years before two men they thought were friends took their lives as well as their beloved dogs lives in a brutal attack.
Tune in as Savannah shares the story of how these two peculiarly creative souls were taken too soon and Elysia is reminded of how one's intuition of impending death can make a person do otherwise strange things.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
“The Corpsewood Manor Murders of North Georgia” by Amy Petulla
https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/1984/40344-1.html
Gore Report: A True Crime Podcast: "Hometown Legends Volume 2: The Corpsewood Manor Murders"
Beers With Queers: A True Crime Podcast: Episode 2 "The Corpsewood Manor Murders"
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
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Case Number 87: The Suspicious Fall of Bonnie Craig
When Bonnie's body was found at the bottom of a cliff just off a hiking trail, her family was in utter shock and disbelief. The park was nowhere near where she was supposed to be that day and it was completely out of character for her to stray from her routine.
Karen, Bonnie's Mother, was further shocked when she arrived at the medical examiner's office to identify her body. She recognized the bruises and wounds on Bonnie's hands and arms as defense injuries. That began a 17 year journey to finding justice for Bonnie and advocating for stricter DNA laws.
Tune in as Elysia takes us through the lengthy process of elimination in the investigation and possibly the most suspenseful trial we've covered. Meanwhile, Savannah is flabbergasted at the number of potential suspects Bonnie knew.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Dateline: Justice for Bonnie, Season 20, Episode 18
Justice for Bonnie by Karen Foster and I.J. Schecter
https://justiceforbonnie.com/
http://www.sitnews.us/0507news/050207/050207_shns_dna_arrest.html
https://www.fosters.com/story/news/2007/05/13/cold-case-unites-mothers-on/52506313007/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenneth-dion-ex-soldier-on-trial-for-1994-murder-of-alaska-coed-bonnie-craig/
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/defendant-guilty-bonnie-craig-murder/2011/06/16/
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181 -
Case Number 86: The Society Murders
The prominent and wealthy Wales family dynamic had long been complicated but tensions rose when matriarch, Margaret Wales-King, and her husband, Paul King, both went missing. When it was discovered that Margaret's youngest son, Matthew, and his wife, Maritza, were the last to see Margaret and Paul, the rest of her children wanted answers. Instead, they got a lot of dramatics as Matthew would do nothing but sob and act out every time they spoke with him.
Detectives quickly found some potential motives and the couple were the number one suspects. When their bodies were found, detectives had all the physical evidence they needed and when faced with murder charges, Maritza confessed everything she knew.
Tune in as Savannah gives us the details one of the worst planned crimes we've seen and Elysia explains that this is why one shouldn't try to control inheritance from the grave.
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
https://www.theage.com.au/national/murder-in-the-family-20030411-gdvivr.html
Bonney, Hilary (2003). The Society Murders: The True Story of the Wales-King Murders.
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181 -
Case Number 85: The Kirtland Cult Killings
When the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints rejected Jeffrey Lundgren from both a position as the Kirtland Temple Guide and Sunday School Teacher, his already disturbing beliefs became completely unhinged. Having already developed a following of individuals within the church, he convinced many of them that it would be their Godly mission to oust the current church elders and recapture the Temple to bring about a long time mormon belief. As the plan took shape, Jeffrey's vision grew increasingly violent.
Fortunately for the church, local police became suspicious and began working with the FBI to put a stop to the plan. Unfortunately for Jeffrey's followers, he caught on and the plans changed along with who he condemned. They would instead go out to live in the wilderness for a time to meet Jesus. He insisted they could only do so if they rid themselves of the worst sinners and according to him that was a family with 3 young children.
Tune in as Elysia works really hard to get this horrific story out of her system and Savannah is truly left angry and speechless. Then plan on taking a mental health break because this one's a doozy!
Don't forget to leave us the weekly emoji for your Sunday shoutout! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!
Sources:
Cult Justice: The Cult Tapes; Season 1, Episode 5
https://www.news-herald.com/2014/12/30/kirtland-cult-killings-timeline-of-events/
https://fox2now.com/news/true-crime/true-crime-dinner-invite-ends-in-missouri-family-cult-killing/
https://www.news-herald.com/2014/12/30/kirtland-cult-killings-the-prison-sentences/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-13-me-188-story.html
https://casetext.com/case/state-v-lundgren-1
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-6th-circuit/1105132.html
https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/state-v-lundgren-1993-892948386
https://murderpedia.org/male.L/images/l/lundgren_jeffrey_don/lundgren_jeffrey.pdf
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ohio-cult-leader-executed-for-slaying-family-of-5/
https://casetext.com/case/state-v-lundgren-7
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/mormons-timeline/
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/fundamentalist-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints
Timesuck | The Kirtland Cult Killings and Jeffrey Lundgren: 1 of 2
https://www.jstor.org/stable/43200280
https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/W025516
https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/A224420
https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/A237062
https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/A230044
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2007/11/14/site-ohio-cult-murders-razed/23329962007/
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/alleged-child-abuser-had-cult-murderer-father
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/crime/2010/03/05/father-jailed-in-infant-abuse/64062068007/
Graphic Art By: Taylor Poe
Music By:
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181
Customer Reviews
Makes Thursdays Exciting!
This podcast is one of a kind, every Thursday I get excited to hear Elysia and Savannah talk about these unique stories. You can see their intelligent and witty nature in every case they share. Love your work!
True Crime with a Quasi-Legal Amusing Commentary
The hosts, Savannah and Elysia, present true crime cases with an amusing, quasi-legal commentary. I respect their non-biased reporting of the case facts. The differences in the hosts’ ages, life stories and lifestyles allow for lively discussion of the cases from each’s unique perspective. The cases presented are interesting and well-researched. The discussions are intelligent and humorous. I look forward to listening to this podcast every week!
Nope
I can’t listen anymore. The one hosts voice is so shaky I always feel like she’s crying. I also dispose the banter and jokes they make. It comes across very unprofessional and immature.