Shear Crime Podcast Shear Crime Podcast

On this week’s episode, Ame and Kenzie cover the capture of BTK from the Netflix documentary Catching Killers. Dennis Radar, also known as BTK (bind torture kill) threatened the peace and security of every man, woman and child in the mid 70’s when he tortured and killed an entire family in their suburban home, in the middle of the day. A title holding member of his church, married with two children, he went on to murder 6 more people in the Kansas City and Wichita area with no capture or conviction. But when the horror and carnage ended, many felt they could breathe again. Then in the early 2000’s, cryptic letters and packages began showing up, all signed: BTK. The elusive man who had evaded police for nearly 30 years was coming out from his hiding place. Police were worried he would go back to his need for killing. Luckily, this time technology had passed up his clever antics. Cameras, security, DNA, and police work had advanced enough where Dennis wouldn’t be able to get away so easily again. This is the story of how a seemingly normal man living in a nice neighborhood was arrested and put away all because he got cocky and couldn’t let his desires to be known rest with his victims. 

On this week’s episode, Kenzie and Ame cover another installment in the series The Killer Speaks with the interview of Gene Meredith. A women’s body is found behind a dumpster, and a strange man lurked around the crime scene and sped off before the authorities could respond to the 911 call. Luckily, the witnesses who made the call were able to give a vehicle description which was quite unique to a van with mismatched colored doors. Within 24 hours, police were on the lookout for Gene Meredith, and quickly caught up with him at his girlfriend’s house - just moments before he had planned to kill her. But during interrogations, it became pretty obvious that something was bothering Gene, almost pushing him to do and say things he claimed he normally wouldn’t. Was this man haunted by voices only he could hear, or was he laying the ground work for a great defense? 

On this week’s Minnesode, Kenzie shares the story of the murder of Katherine Ann Olson in Savage, MN. On Oct 25, 2007, she answered an ad on Craig’s List for a nanny job and went to meet the family looking for care for their kids. She was never seen alive again, as she was shot in the back shortly after entering the home. Her body was found wrapped in a sleeping bag in the trunk of her car five blocks away. You may have heard of the Craig’s List Killer… this is that story. 

On this week’s episode, Kenzie and Ame cover the capture of Aileen Wuornos in the Netflix series Catching Killers. Known by many as the first female serial killer in America, Aileen was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of 6 men in central Florida. After multiple bodies are found dumped on the side of highways, police are frantic to figure out who is responsible. Eventually they catch a break when an eye witness is able to describe two women leaving the scene. Police begin tracing their steps which lead them to motels and pawn shops. Once they get the names of the femme fatales they are able to track them to Daytona Beach. Using an undercover cop armed with a wad of cash in a tough biker bar, they succeed in getting the attention of Aileen and soon after, apprehend her before she can strike again. 

On this week’s episode, Kenzie and Ame cover another installment of the A&E series The Killer Speaks. On a cold, snowy December day in 2002, Earl Forrest wakes up, downs a bottle of whiskey and sets off to his best friend’s house. Harriet “Toddy” Smith and Forrest had been close for over 30 years beginning their friendship in California in the 80’s. Earl had lived a hard and fast life as a high level drug dealer and after serving time in jail, he wanted a fresh start in a new place.  Toddy had recently moved out to Missouri to take care of her family farm after the death of her father and talked Earl into following her. Everything was great, Earl was sober, working full time, and got to live by his best friend again. But before long, a deal between he and Toddy goes sour and Earl’s temper flares, resulting in a double homicide and a shoot out with police that would also end with the death of a beloved deputy. What could make someone murder their best friend of three decades? The answer is somewhat surprising but no less tragic. 

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