Panic True Queer Crime

Panic

Panic: Queer True Crime, a podcast, and youtube channel featuring stories about the life and death of queer folks. To watch any of the true-crime episodes, join me at Panic on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4r13FF8ExLGbhfSH6i4hw A little bit about Panic. I created this true-crime channel to focus on the life and death of queer folk. I called the channel Panic because, for much more of the recorded history of LGBTQ+ people, there's always been a panic. The primary focus of the channel is an investigation of homophobia through hate crimes murders and intimate partner violence which is underreported in the queer community. Panic is both a podcast and a YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@panicqueertruecrime Sometimes being queer can be murder. Join me! Check out the first two seasons of the podcast for a little something different.

  1. -1 j

    Acts of Pride and Resistance

    This is one of those stories whose details are almost too surreal to believe, but the details also give a sharp insight into what can happen when a group of people is ostracized and treated like pariahs. In 1952, 34, Dale Jennings went into a public restroom and was propositioned by a vice cop. When Jennings showed no interest, the cop followed him home, barged his way inside, and attempted to seduce Jennings before finally just arresting him. Unbeknownst to the vice squad, Jennings was one of the founding members of the Mattachine Society, which later evolved into the Mattachine Foundation. The members banded together, raised money for Jennings' defense, and launched a campaign to end the practice of entrapment.  Years Before Stonewall: The Dewey's Sit-In In 1965, activists staged a sit-in at a popular spot for queer folks, Dewey's in Philadelphia. Dewey's, like lots of spots across the USA, would often allow queer folks in, take their money, then call the police when they were tired of their custom. Two Encore Stories How Chris Bearchell Led a Toronto Bathhouse Uprising. In 1981, Toronto police raided 4 gay bathhouses in Operation Soap—arresting 253 men. Activist and organizer Chris Bearchell turned rage into revolution. Bearchell stood up at the protest and started the iconic proclamation. A chant that led 3,000+ demonstrators in Canada's first massive gay rights uprising. The Black Cat Raid On New Year's Eve 1966, undercover LAPD officers raided the Black Cat bar in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, triggering one of the earliest LGBTQ civil rights protests in U.S. history. There was another bar raided on the same night as the Black Cat, two patrons were arrested bring the total to 16. The protest against police violence across Los Angeles was one of the first protests where LGBTQ+ folks joined in common cause with members of the African American and Latino communities, also protesting violence at the hands of police. To watch any of these episodes, check out the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@queerpanic

    12 min

  2. 14 mai

    The Hyde Incident

    Susan Hyde In 1978, the women's tennis team at California State University, Northridge was rocked by a grisly murder borne out of jealousy. Susan Hyde and her partner of several years, Janis Hasse, lived and worked together on campus, but Hasse's relationship with 21, Loni Andersen, carried on even though Hasse lived with Hyde. When Hyde was out of town, Hasse and Andersen would get together. Finally, Hasse ended the affair, and though Andersen seemed to move on, she was silently plotting and planning to get back together with Hasse, but it would all end in murder. Robert Evans In 1986, Robert Evans went missing until his body was found beaten, battered, and bruised. His killer would be a young man who had developed a penchant for cruising gay men and robbing them; in this case, a victim stood between him and what he wanted. The trial's ending might surprise you. Fred Pletka In 1977, the nude bodies of Robert Schmeckpeper and James King were found in their Sioux City trailer, setting off a case that would spiral into a brutal trial and a disturbing legal defense. Fred Pletka was eventually convicted, but the way the crime was framed says as much about the era's prejudice as it does about the murders themselves. The Black Cat On New Year's Eve 1966, undercover LAPD officers raided the Black Cat bar in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, triggering one of the earliest LGBTQ civil rights protests in U.S. history. There was another bar raided on the same night as the Black Cat, two patrons were arrested bring the total to 16. The protest against police violence across Los Angeles was one of the first protests where LGBTQ+ folks joined in common cause with members of the African American and Latino communities, also protesting violence at the hands of police. To watch any of these episode check out the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@queerpanic

    12 min

  3. 5 avr.

    Richard Heakin and Decades of Hate

    In this episode, the murder of Richard Heakin for whom San Francisco's Butterfly Brigade was named.  On June 6, 1976, 21-year-old Richard Heakin of Lincoln, Nebraska, was leaving Tucson's Stonewall Tavern, a gay bar, when a group of teenage boys attacked him in the dirt parking lot. They had reportedly gone there "looking for fags to beat up," and witnesses saw them kicking Richard on the ground before one landed a brutal blow to his neck that proved fatal. He died shortly afterward at the University of Arizona Medical Center. In April of 2023, in 48 hours period, Jer Auntey Pleasant lured San Antonio, Texas, Larry Wilson, and Joseph West. In April 2023, two gay men were lured through Grindr and murdered days apart, leaving a terrified community and a digital trail of evidence. In this short, we break down how the killer targeted his victims, what went wrong in those final meetings, and how investigators finally connected the dots. Ed (Edward) Cornes was a 19‑year‑old gay first‑year history student at University College London who was found dead in a King's Cross hotel basement room in October 2021. The two men arrested for death were released, and the case was closed. The Cornes' family believes the investigation into their son's death was tainted by homophobic assumptions on the part of the Metropolitan Police. On February 22, 2026, at 2:31 a.m., Orlando Police responded to a shooting outside Savoy Orlando nightclub on N Orange Ave. 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz was found with a gunshot wound during chaotic closing time—patrons scattering as cars passed and tensions boiled over into deadly violence. To watch any of these episode check out the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@queerpanic

    10 min

  4. 9 mars

    Hunted: Five Little-Known Tucson Hate Crime Murders

    While researching the 1976 murder of Robert Hillsborough, I encountered references to San Francisco's Butterfly Brigade — officially known as the Richard Heakin Memorial Butterfly Brigade. Why would a hate crime murder in Arizona become the rallying cry for LGBTQ+ folks in San Francisco? In researching that question, I stumbled on five murders, including Mr. Heakins. In this episode, a 1970s gay community under siege, and the uneven application of justice. In this first episode, two 1974 murders committed by shockingly young perpetrators and a third committed by a group of teens police seemed to identify, interview, and release. Thanks for joining me for Hunted: Part One. 📜 Sources, links, and the Robert Hillsborough case video can be found here: https://youtube.com/shorts/-4rimvr69RU Panic Queer True Crime, uncovering hidden queer history through true crime. The channel covers crimes in two categories: violence fueled by hate and intimate partner violence. In addition, we cover stories of LGBTQ+ folks targeted by extortion, arrest, and other forms of life-altering violence that don't result in murder. These stories deserve our loving attention, because sometimes being queer can be murder. If you'd like to watch this episode: https://youtu.be/zOPufn1wBm8

    11 min

  5. 5 janv.

    Panic 26: Love, Death, and Defiance

    In this episode an update, stories of intimate partner violence, and folks you should know about. I wanted to bookend the episode with a story of bravery and power. Please stick around til the end, you will want to know about Chris Bearchell. She rocks.  I'd like to thank Feedspot for alerting us to the amazing fact that Panic: queer True Crime is, for the second year, in the top ten most listened to queer true crime podcasts. Thanks to Feedspot and thanks to you for making it happen. Hugs! Fanny & Stella: A Wild, Wild Victorian Ride Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park were "respectable" Victorian gentlemen who found freedom onstage as Fanny and Stella. Their drag performances thrilled audiences across 1860s–70s England—until they brought their show into the streets. Their arrest and scandalous trial exposed the era's hypocrisy and crushed both love and ambition. Fanny, Stella, and their circle lived boldly in a world that punished authenticity, making them pioneers to be celebrated. 2025 Update: Justice for Jimmie 'Jay' Lee in the Ole Miss Murder Case After an 11–1 mistrial and the later discovery of Jimmie "Jay" Lee's body, Timothy Herrington Jr. took a plea deal for Lee's killing. The judge said Mississippi "got it right this time," yet the state still lacks LGBTQ+ protections or hate crime coverage. Both young men had promising futures ended by homophobia—a reminder that being gay isn't deadly, but hate is. Her Short, Brilliant Life Was Cut Short by Violence When Girlalala (LaLa) and her boyfriend, Shanoyd Whyte Jr., fought on November 14, 2025, tragedy struck. Whyte pulled a gun and killed LaLa, leaving the community in shock. Intimate partner violence is alarmingly high in the trans community—but help is available. If you or someone you know is in danger, please seek support. Timothy Smith Murder Trial Update Timothy Smith and Herbert Swilley seemed the picture of happiness in Ocala, Florida—until coworkers found Smith dead in March 2023. He'd been drugged, strangled, and left in a staged scene. Months later, Swilley was charged with first-degree premeditated murder. Warrior Chris Bearchell: "No More Sht" Christine "Chris" Bearchell was a fearless Canadian lesbian activist who helped reshape LGBTQ+ rights. From challenging sexist dress codes in high school to leading protests after Toronto's 1981 bathhouse raids, she fought back against police harassment and public shaming. A founder of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives and key voice in securing Ontario's human rights protections, she also championed sex workers' rights and HIV/AIDS outreach. Bearchell died in 2007 at 53—remembered as a visionary warrior who deserves wider recognition. You deserve to live a life free of violence of any kind. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE National Hotlines and Support National Domestic Violence Hotline Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Text: Text "START" to 88788 Live Chat & Information: thehotline.org   Services are available 24/7, confidential, and support all individuals regardless of identity or background.   Trans Lifeline: A trans-led hotline providing emotional support and crisis intervention for trans people.   Call 877-565-8860 or visit translifeline.org.​ The Network/La Red: A 24-hour confidential hotline for LGBTQ+ people experiencing domestic violence.   Call 617-742-4911 (local) or 800-832-1901 (toll-free).   If you or someone you know is in danger: Call 9-1-1 immediately. Please subscribe and share this story.   These stories deserve our loving attention.

    13 min

  6. 22/11/2025

    Heartbreak and Victory: Stories of Resistance, Violence, and Change

    At first glance, these stories might seem disparate in time, history, and gender—but they aren't at all. From resistance to bar raids, arrests, and harassment long before Stonewall, to hate crime murders and legal defenses ratified in courts across the world, until gay panic could no longer be sustained as a murder rationale. Each one of these stories of heartbreak and victory adds a vital detail to the larger story of queer folks and their struggle to achieve equality and full protection under the law. Please subscribe and share these stories.  1. The Homosexual Advance Defense (1993) In 1993, Malcolm Green confessed to killing a man who tried to help him—a case that exposed Australia's "homosexual advance defense" loophole and sparked decades of activism that eventually changed the law. 2. The Black Cat Cafe During WWII, San Francisco police and the liquor board joined forces to shut down queer gathering spaces. The Black Cat Cafe became an early model of resistance, laying groundwork for the activism that would eventually transform law enforcement's relationship with the city's LGBTQ+ community. 3. Colorado's Conversion Therapy Ban at the Supreme Court (2025) On October 7, 2025, a Colorado counselor challenged the state's conversion therapy ban before the Supreme Court. Research consistently shows these practices cause depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation—especially in minors. A ruling against the ban could allow harmful practices to resume nationwide. 4. Cooper Donuts Riot (1959) On a May night in 1959, trans women, lesbians, drag queens, and gay patrons at Cooper Donuts in LA's Skid Row fought back against police harassment—an early act of LGBTQ+ resistance. 5. Pepper Hill Club Raid (1955) Baltimore police arrested 162 people at the Pepper Hill Club, requiring six wagons and 24 trips. A judge condemned the abuse of power, resulting in only a handful of convictions. 6. Justice for Kier Solomon (2021–2025) Kier Solomon, a 21-year-old transgender woman, was found fatally shot in her car at an Arlington, Texas, apartment complex in September 2021—the 38th transgender person killed by violence in the U.S. that year. After nearly four years unsolved, investigators charged Arthur Morris Jr. with her murder in 2025, using digital evidence, app records, and cell phone data to build the case. This episode honors Kier's life and examines what her case means for LGBTQ+ communities safety and justice. 7. The Murder of Julio Rivera (1990) In 1990, 29-year-old Julio Rivera was killed in a brutal act of anti-gay violence in New York City. His murder galvanized the queer community into action, pressuring police to investigate and sending a clear message: they would no longer tolerate being battered, murdered, and ignored. Please subscribe and share these stories.

    19 min

  7. 02/11/2025

    Panicked: Brent William Bedayan and the Murder of Three Members of the Schallock Family

    On March 16th, 1973, three members of the Schallock family were found dead in their driveway as their home burned behind them. This episode explores the tragic descent of Brent William Bedayan, a former athlete whose treatment of schizophrenia couldn't prevent the devastating, violent outcome.  Discover how the defense relied on the discredited psychiatric theory "homosexual panic," even though the decade had ushered in advances in the understanding and treatment of paranoia and schizophrenia.  Join me to explore the rarely discussed intersection of mental health, LGBTQ+ history, and the legal system. Subscribe and share these stories. 61, Melvin Schallock was a partner in a food brokerage firm. His brother, Art Schallock pitched for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. 53, Ruth Derr Schallock attended the University of California, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. The Schallocks had three children, all sons, all musically inclined, a talent the inherited from their mother.

    13 min

  8. 21/09/2025

    Sex, Identity, and a Fight for Survival

    Sex, Identity, and The Fight for Basic Rights Two landmark cases that overturned the targeted attempts on the part of states across the United States to criminalize being queer. In 1982 and 1998, both Michael Hardwick, John Geddes Lawrence Jr., and Tyron Garner were arrested for having sex in the privacy of their own homes. A State of Emergency: Violence Against Black Trans Women, A Cry for Justice 4 Black Trans Women Killed – A State of Emergency from across the country of black transgender women murdered by gun violence. All but one of these cases is solved. All of the women deserve the same justice.   A College Football Player's Deadly Secret: The Ty Underwood Case On January 26, 2015, residents of a quiet Tyler, Texas neighborhood were startled awake when a car came to a sudden stop, followed by the sound of gunfire. When police arrived, they found the body of 24-year-old Ty Underwood shot to death behind the wheel of her car. Following a trail of clues, police soon arrested 21-year-old Texas College student and football player Carlton Ray Champion Jr. The trial that followed would expose a relationship a killer was desperate to hide.     The Mysterious Death of Timothy Lee On the evening of November 2, 1985, 23-year-old fashion design student Timothy Charles Lee fell asleep on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train while traveling home after work in San Francisco. Eleven hours later, he was found hanging from a tree in a vacant lot near the Concord BART station.   The Murder of Mr. Tidd On a warm Miami, Florida evening in 1959, 32, Chelcie Tidd met a handsome stranger and invited him home. At the end of the evening, Tidd's body would be found floating in his pool, and the 23, James Seitz would be on the run. In custody, Seitz would recite line and verse a tale of an unwanted advance and his violent homosexual panic response. A closer look at his past would challenge the idea of panic.   Sex, Identity, and The Fight for Basic Rights Two landmark cases that overturned the targeted attempts on the part of states across the United States to criminalize being queer. In 1982 and 1998, both Michael Hardwick, John Geddes Lawrence Jr., and Tyron Garner were arrested for having sex in the privacy of their own homes. It would take decades to overturn the redefinition of sodomy that sought to criminalize the act of same-sex sex. Some of you might be surprised, as I am every time I review these facts, how recent they are. Now and then, someone leaves a comment about how long ago some of the events covered on the channel were.  My response is that current events make a powerful case for telling these stories. Having a firm grounding in what's come before is a solid way of facing the triumphs and challenges to come.    Please subscribe and share these stories.   RESOURCES: Here is a list of contact information for inquiries or tips about these homicides: Honee Daniels (Rochester, NY) Rochester Police Department Public Information Officer: Gregory Bello (no direct public phone listed, contact via main line) Rochester Police Department non-emergency: (585) 428-6690 For general tips, contact Rochester Police or check local news sources for updates.  Redd / Barbie (Chicago, IL) Chicago Police Department Non-Emergency: 311 (within city limits) Anti-Gun Enforcement Hotline: (877) CPD-GUNS (273-4867) Gang Hotline: (312) 746-GANG (4264) General contact and tips: Chicago Police Department website or hotline numbers.  Tai Lathan (Baltimore, MD) Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit: (410) 396-2100 Metro Crime Stoppers (anonymous tips): 1-866-7-LOCKUP (1-866-752-6587) Community advocates such as Maryland Safe Haven are also involved.  Monique Brooks (Orlando, FL) Orange County Sheriff's Office Crimeline (anonymous tips and reward): 1-800-423-TIPS (1-800-423-8477) Orange County Sheriff's Office main line: (407) 836-4357 For updates, check Orange County Sheriff's social media or news releases.  Shannon Boswell (Atlanta, GA) DeKalb County Police Department Non-Emergency: (404) 294-2911 For further tips or information, contact DeKalb County PD or local community organizations.  These contacts are intended for providing information or tips related to these homicide investigations. If immediate assistance is needed or to report a crime in progress, always call 911.

    12 min
Tout afficher (96)

Bande-annonce

À propos

Panic: Queer True Crime, a podcast, and youtube channel featuring stories about the life and death of queer folks. To watch any of the true-crime episodes, join me at Panic on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4r13FF8ExLGbhfSH6i4hw A little bit about Panic. I created this true-crime channel to focus on the life and death of queer folk. I called the channel Panic because, for much more of the recorded history of LGBTQ+ people, there's always been a panic. The primary focus of the channel is an investigation of homophobia through hate crimes murders and intimate partner violence which is underreported in the queer community. Panic is both a podcast and a YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@panicqueertruecrime Sometimes being queer can be murder. Join me! Check out the first two seasons of the podcast for a little something different.

Informations

  • Création
    Panic
  • Années d’activité
    2024 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    96
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Panic Queer True Crime All Rights Reserved
  • Site web de l’émission
    Panic True Queer Crime