Murderous Roots with Denise & Zelda Murderous Roots
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- True Crime
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Murderous Roots is not just another true crime podcast. While Denise and Zelda do go through the crimes committed, they explore family history of the criminals, and sometimes the victims, too. What made these men and women commit horrendous crimes? Was it how they were raised or were they born this way? We get to the heart of their murderous pasts and roots.
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Episode 45: Ten Degrees of Separation
In Part 2 covering Jeffrey Dahmer, we go deep into the stories of his family history from immigrant origins to broken families. Not only did we find a history of mental illness in his family, but we also discovered that Jeffrey had some famous cousins.
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The Milwaukee Cannibal
By the evening of July 23, 1991, the evening news in Milwaukee came out regarding the arrest of a man, the night before, with various body parts found in his apartment. Soon, the world would read in horror of the atrocities committed by Jeffrey Dahmer, soon coined “The Milwaukee Cannibal.” Each day after his arrest more details would emerge of his monstrous crimes.
In Part 1, with their guest, Mira Manni, Denise and Zelda discuss all the events that would lead to Dahmer’s arrest and what happened once he went to prison. Then, they discuss what happened next with his mother and father. Over the years, Dahmer’s mother has been demonized, but is it really all that simple?
Come back next week for Part 2 when we go deep into his family tree, a tree filled with secrets and surprises. -
New Episodes Coming Soon
After being gone for several months, Murderous Roots is returning! The lives of Denise and Zelda got hectic. This is particularly true for Denise who not only researches the trees but also produces the podcast. Both Denise and Zelda have missed sharing stories about the lives and family histories of their subjects. They hope you join them as they kick things off again next week!
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Rough Time on the Gold Fields
Julie Dixon Jaxson, genetic genealogist and host of CutOff Genes, joins us to share a shocking story she discovered while researching her family tree. This story takes place on the gold fields in Victoria, Australia and appeared in The Bendigo Advertiser on 1 April 1861. Listen to learn what happened to her distant aunt and uncle. It’s a shocking tale of murder.
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Episode 42: Logic is Important
In Part 2 of Georgia Tann, Julie Dixon Jackson, from CutOff Genes, Zelda, and Denise continue their conversation about the corrupt head of the Tennessee Children’s Home in Memphis, Tennessee. They explore Georgia’s family tree continuing with their conversation about Tann’s mother Beulah Yates, learning about a murder in the family lines and what happened with her partner Ann and their children.
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Episode 41: Stealing Babies
For close to thirty years, Georgia Tann helped families adopt babies. But the truth was much darker. As the person in charge of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis, Tennessee, Georgia used her position to adopt out children to families outside of Tennessee. In doing so, she was able to “sell” the babies and line her pockets. Due to demand, she often stole babies from poor and struggling families.Adoptee rights advocate, Julie Dixon Jackson, from the podcast Cut Off Genes, joins us as we discuss the horrific deeds of Ms. Tann. Then we begin exploring her family tree starting with her father, a judge in charge of adoptions. We’ll be back in two weeks with Part 2.
Customer Reviews
Rave review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the best podcasts I’ve listened to! I love a good backstory and these ladies hit it out of the park.
As an amateur genealogist and a true crime buff this is right up my ally!
These gals are not only 100% factual but are also entertaining.
Totally love this!
Dig Up the Roots
Murderous Roots takes the true crime formula a step further with its focus on family and origins. It’s a simple shift of focus from the usual premise most other shows take, but it’s effective. It’s well researched, well presented and easy to listen along with. They also cover a variety of people and cases, I don’t recall anyone else covering Harry T. Hayward for instance. It’s well balanced between history and true crime. Give them a listen and subscribe now!
Denise
Not only can you hear the bond these two have through the episodes with their loving and close banter up top, letting us a little in on who they are, the show is tight! Well researched, interesting content fill the podcast. Family trees were always my favorite projects in high school and this is one of my favorite spooky pods. You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your podcasts!