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Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories

BySpotify Studios
388 episodes

Podcast Summary

Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories is a podcast drama with a modern twist on old time radio that delves into the mystery of true cold cases and unsolved murders. With the help of an ensemble cast, follow our hosts as they take you on an entertaining journey through the crime scene, the investigation and attempt to solve the case. With many surprising plot twists, it’s important you start listening from the first episode of a cold case. New episodes are released every Tuesday. Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories is a Spotify Original.

#1

Disappearance at the Vatican: The Orlandi Case

What happens when a teenager goes missing in the world’s smallest, and supposedly safest, country? Emanuela Orlandi’s sudden disappearance remains the only missing person’s case in Vatican City, yet more than 40 years later we still have no idea what really happened behind the papal state’s walls. After the story, stick around for an exclusive interview with the director of The First Omen, Arkasha Stevenson!This episode is brought to you by Twentieth Century Studios' the First Omen. Experience the most terrifying movie of the year, and what critics are calling “deliciously disturbing” only in theaters April 5th.Conspiracy Theories is now on Instagram @theconspiracypod and TikTok @conspiracy.pod! Follow us to keep up with the show and get behind-the-scenes updates from Carter and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2024-03-27•1hr 3mins
#2

The Black Dahlia Murder Pt. 2

Elizabeth Short’s gruesome murder is the LAPD’s most infamous unsolved case. But there’s one person who thinks he’s cracked it — the alleged killer’s own son. Today, we reopen the case against George Hodel, a certified genius and once-celebrated doctor who rubbed elbows with noted surrealists… and had a vile history of abuse and terror, even against his own family. This episode originally aired August 2022 - to hear more of Vanessa and Carter check out Serial Killers and Conspiracy Theories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-09-26•46mins
#3

The Black Dahlia Murder Pt. 1

In 1940s Hollywood, a 22-year-old aspiring actress is found mutilated and drained of blood. Her body is posed, and her mouth has been carved into a permanent smile. The investigation takes police into the hidden sides of the city — illicit romances and gang-related crimes. But when another mutilated body is found weeks later, the hunt is on for a possible serial killer. This is a crossover series with Unsolved Murders, looking at the murder of Elizabeth Short and other unsolved cases surrounding it. This episode originally aired August 2022 - to hear more of Vanessa and Carter check out Serial Killers and Conspiracy Theories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-09-19•37mins
#4

Jane Stanford Pt. 2

In early 1905, Hawaiian police opened—and quickly closed—an investigation into Jane Stanford’s mysterious death. A century later, an amateur sleuth tried to crack the case, uncovering university scandals, possible motives for murder, and a misinformation campaign led by the president of Stanford University himself. This episode originally aired in September 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-09-12•31mins
#5

Jane Stanford Pt. 1

She became one of the most influential people in California when she co-founded Stanford University in 1891. Jane Stanford was widely beloved for her forward-thinking, liberal ideals—but she also earned a few enemies. And when she was murdered in 1905, one question sent shockwaves through California: Who disagreed with Jane enough to kill her? This episode originally aired in September 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-09-05•41mins
#6

Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Pt. 3

During World War II, two bizarre murders in the West Midlands region of England became linked by speculations of witchcraft and black magic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-08-29•52mins
#7

Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Pt. 2

Two years after the unidentified skeleton known as Bella was found in a hollow tree in Hagley Wood, a second bizarre murder struck the West Midlands. On February 14th, 1945, a 74-year-old Farmhand named Charles Walton was brutally slain in the nearby village of Lower Quinton. Scotland Yard deployed master detective Robert Fabian to lead the investigation. But what he hoped would be an open-and-shut case soon revealed itself to be an impenetrable web, made only murkier by centuries of superstition. From the outset, the case seemed to be cursed, whether by the phantom hounds that traipsed the countryside, or by the whispers of witchcraft and black magic that followed whenever anyone spoke of Charles Walton. This episode originally aired in October 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-08-22•48mins
#8

Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?

On April 14th, 1943, four boys discovered the skeleton of a woman in a hollow tree while exploring the woods near Hagley, England. Investigators threw themselves into the task of identifying the body, but after months of searching, were no closer to giving her a name. With England caught in the midst of World War II, it seemed like she was destined to be forgotten... until mysterious messages began cropping up around the Black Country, taunting the investigators with a cryptic question: who put Bella in the wych elm? This episode originally aired in September 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-08-15•44mins

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#9

Body on the Beach: Starr Faithfull Pt. 2

After a beachcomber discovered Starr’s body, it took two autopsies to determine foul play. Was Starr’s childhood abuser — and former mayor of Boston — behind her death? Did Starr decide to take her own life that night on the water, as some of her private letters suggested? Or did she get wrapped up with a notorious gangster in a blackmail scheme gone wrong? This episode originally aired in October 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-08-08•37mins
#10

Body on the Beach: Starr Faithfull Pt. 1

In 1931, the body of a young woman washed up on the shores of Long Island. Starr Faithfull had spent the Roaring Twenties chasing glamor, partying in speakeasies and sneaking aboard ocean liners. Her mysterious death became a tabloid sensation. This episode originally aired in September 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-08-01•37mins
#11

The Wanda Beach Murders Pt. 2

The murders of teenagers Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt shocked the community of Wanda Beach. Police announced more than 5000 persons of interest, but only three people became prime suspects. Who were they and which one of them is really responsible for the Wanda Beach Murders? This episode originally aired in May 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-07-25•37mins
#12

The Wanda Beach Murders Pt. 1

Australian teens Christine Sharrock, Marianne Schmidt, and Marianne's four younger siblings set out for the beach. When the younger siblings became tired, the older girls continued on, promising to be back soon. Their bodies were discovered the next day. This episode originally aired in May 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-07-18•36mins
#13

Dead on the 4th of July: Marilyn Reese Sheppard Pt. 2

After a lengthy appeals process, Sam Sheppard was set free in 1964, ten years after his wife Marilyn’s murder. Two years later, he would be retried on second degree murder charges. New evidence would surface, but would it be enough to convict him? This episode originally aired in July 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-07-11•1hr 5mins
#14

Dead on the 4th of July: Marilyn Reese Sheppard Pt. 1

Prestigious doctor Sam Sheppard woke up in the middle of the night to find his wife Marilyn dead from a gruesome murder. His account of what happened early that morning was shaky, and it was no secret that Sam had been sleeping around. Did the murderer break into the house to steal prescription drugs, or did Sam kill his wife in order to end the marriage? This episode originally aired in June 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-07-04•48mins
#15

“The Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski Pt. 2

By the 1980s, Ted Kaczynski had set off several bombs, causing only minor injuries — but for him, it wasn’t enough. What had started as a plot for revenge grew into an unrelenting need to change the world. To do that, he needed to kill. The reign of the Unabomber had begun. This episode originally aired on Serial Killers in April 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-06-27•42mins
#16

“The Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski Pt. 1

Spotting his genius at a young age, Ted Kaczynski’s parents pushed their son to academic excellence — but Ted never found a true home in the hallowed halls of academia. Instead, by 1969, he was a former math professor with a festering hatred for the modern world. This episode originally aired on Serial Killers in April 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-06-20•39mins
#17

A Message from Carter

Saying goodbye to Unsolved Murders after 7 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-06-20•0mins
#18

Virginia Carpenter

In the 1940s, a young woman returns to her college campus before vanishing seemingly into thin air. Her mother keeps up the investigation for decades — but every new lead that surfaces suggests a fate more terrible than the last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-06-13•30mins
#19

Bobby Donati & The Gardner Museum Heist

In 1991 a man was found dead in the trunk of his car. He’d been brutally slain, and despite obvious foul play, leads were hard to come by — until his name began popping up in another investigation. One that was unraveling the threads of an art heist unlike anything the world had ever seen before. This episode originally aired on Cold Cases in October 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-06-06•35mins
#20

The Missing Dead: Sarah Stern

On a December evening in 2016, a man called 911 when he spotted an abandoned car on a bridge. Police discovered that 19-year-old Sarah Stern of Neptune City, New Jersey, usually drove the vehicle. She was now missing, and police needed to determine if she had left the car voluntarily or was the victim of a crime.If you’d like to learn more about the cases covered in this episode, or learn more about Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month, head to www.spotify.com/disappearances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-05-30•33mins
#21

The Missing Dead: Girly Chew Hossencofft

In September 1999, 36-year-old Girly Chew Hossencofft was supposed to report to work at a local Bank of America branch in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Due to recent threats made by her husband, Girly’s co-workers were worried. When a colleague went to her house to check on her, she was gone. And she was never seen again.If you’d like to learn more about the cases covered in this episode, or learn more about Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month, head to www.spotify.com/disappearances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-05-23•37mins
#22

The Missing Dead: Kristin Smart

It was May of 1996 when college freshman Kristin Smart went to a party and never returned to her dorm. More than 20 years later, a stranger started a podcast that ignited interest in the case and brought a killer to justice.If you’d like to learn more about the cases covered in this episode, or learn more about Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month, head to www.spotify.com/disappearances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-05-16•32mins
#23

“Memorial Day Murder” Allene Lamson Pt. 2

During the funeral of his wife, Allene, David Lamson sat in a jail cell, the prime suspect in her murder. A forensics pioneer came to his defense in an attempt to prove that her death was an accident. But prosecutors felt that between his temper and his alleged affair, he had a motive for murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-05-09•43mins

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#24

“Memorial Day Murder” Allene Lamson Pt. 1

It was Memorial Day, 1933, when a horrifying scream rang out from a Palo Alto, California home. As neighbors came to investigate, homeowner David Lamson claimed to have found his wife Allene's bloody body in the bathtub. Though he was despondent during an interview with police, he was the only other person at home when she died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-05-02•38mins
#25

The Witch of Delray

We want to share a special episode from Not Past It that we think you’ll enjoy. Rose Veres — aka The Witch of Delray — took over newspaper headlines in 1931 when she went on trial for murder. And on October 5 of that year — 90 years ago this week — the verdict in that murder trial was reached. Today on the show, we investigate Rose’s story, the allegations launched against her, and how she came to be known as The Witch of Delray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-04-27•33mins
#26

The Murder of Chalino Sanchez

No one could write a narcocorrido like Chalino Sánchez. His ballads about Mexico’s anti-heroes made him famous. His murder made him legendary. Thirty years ago, he played his final concert in his hometown: Sinaloa, Mexico. He was found dead the next day — whether at the hands of a cartel hitman, or someone from his past seeking vengeance, no one can say for sure. This episode originally aired on Cold Cases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-04-25•38mins
#27

The Life and Death of Dian Fossey Pt. 2

For 18 years, she dedicated her life to the plight of the endangered gorilla. But just after Christmas of 1985, Dian Fossey lost her life — slain by a machete at her research camp in Rwanda. Publically, Fossey was known as a gentle conservationist. But those who knew her personally experienced her darker side. A ruthlessness that could have led to her death. But at whose hands?If you’d like to take action on the climate or learn more about the topics covered in “Dark Green: Earth Crimes and Conspiracies,” visit www.spotify.com/darkgreenresources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-04-18•41mins
#28

The Life and Death of Dian Fossey Pt. 1

By age 34, Dian Fossey was ready to start pursuing her passion. She knew her life’s work was in Africa, she just needed funding to get there. With the backing of famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, Fossey ultimately set up camp in Rwanda. Her groundbreaking studies on gorilla behaviors would make her a household name around the world. Her methods would make her an enemy of the locals.If you’d like to take action on the climate or learn more about the topics covered in “Dark Green: Earth Crimes and Conspiracies,” visit www.spotify.com/darkgreenresources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-04-11•45mins
#29

The Yogurt Shop Murders

Four teenage girls were brutally murdered inside an Austin, Texas, yogurt store in 1991. Suspects and even a motive were hard to come by. At different times, various people confessed to the crime. But each one was interrogated by the same cop, leaving many to wonder if these confessions were truthful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-04-04•38mins
#30

The First DNA Murder Conviction

After two teenage girls were murdered in their tiny English village, lead detective David Baker looks to Dr. Alec Jeffreys for help. Less than a dozen miles away from the crime scene, Jeffreys has been studying the human genome and developed a new technology called "DNA fingerprinting." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-03-28•49mins
#31

Olof Palme Pt. 2

For years, police in Sweden couldn't find a viable suspect in the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme. But in 1988, the task force got a new leader. A suspect with a violent past known as 'The Bayonet Killer" had been overlooked, and his alibi was shaky. Police were finally sure they had the right man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-03-21•49mins
#32

Olof Palme Pt. 1

February 28, 1986, is a day etched into Swedish society's fabric. The country's prime minister, Olof Palme, was shot and killed while walking home from a movie with his wife. Police did a poor job securing the crime scene, and witnesses gave conflicting statements. This led to a host of conspiracy theories about who killed the prime minister and why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-03-14•48mins
#33

“The Taxi Driver” Evelyn Foster Pt. 2

Before her death, Evelyn Foster told her family that she had been attacked by a passenger in her taxi. But as investigators looked into her account, it appeared she may not have been telling the truth. So it took a formal inquiry to determine the exact cause of her death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-03-07•34mins
#34

“The Taxi Driver” Evelyn Foster Pt. 1

She was miles from her hometown when taxi driver Evelyn Foster was found naked from the waist down in the freezing cold. Her car was aflame, and she had ashy, bloody burns. When asked who did this to her, all Evelyn could mutter was, "oh, that awful man." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-02-28•34mins
#35

Bass Reeves: No Master But Duty | Episode 1

This week we’re bringing you the first episode of a new true crime special from Solved Murders, guest hosted by Darnell Ishmel. In episode 1 of Bass Reeves: No Master But Duty, Bass fights hand-to-hand with his enslaver. Victorious, Bass escapes, becoming a fugitive in America’s most dangerous, lawless territory just before the Civil War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-02-22•34mins
#36

The Bogle-Chandler Case Pt. 2

On January 1st, 1963, the Sydney police were hunting for the person who killed Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler. At the crime scene, there were no signs of violence on the bodies. The spouses of each of the descendants had solid alibis… leaving investigators little idea who or what might have killed them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-02-14•37mins
#37

The Bogle-Chandler Case Pt. 1

Though they were each married to other people, the chemistry between Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler was palpable. After a New Year's Eve party in 1962, instead of returning home to their respective spouses, they went to a secluded spot in a park to be intimate. But neither would make it home alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-02-07•32mins
#38

The Marlborough Mystery Pt. 2

Based on witness testimony, authorities believed that Scott Watson killed Olivia Hope and Ben Smart. The jury agreed and took less than 24 hours to convict him. But since his incarceration, several witnesses have recanted their testimony, saying they were pressured by police. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-01-31•43mins
#39

The Marlborough Mystery Pt. 1

It was New Year's Eve 1997 in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand when 17-year-old Olivia Hope and 21-year-old Ben Smart enjoyed a long night of partying. When friends couldn't locate the pair the following day, they assumed the two may have gone off on their own. But after days without contact, it became evident that something was very wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-01-24•39mins
#40

The Guest in Room 1046

On the 10th floor of a hotel in Kansas City, a mysterious guest meets a gruesome end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-01-17•45mins
#41

Mafia Boss Murder: Sam Giancana Pt. 2

After the death of Sam Giancana, investigators found that he had plenty of enemies, and lots of reasons to look over his shoulder. Neither the Chicago Outfit nor the CIA were pleased that he agreed to testify about his criminal activity. But authorities had little to go on because nobody was talking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-01-10•32mins
#42

Mafia Boss Murder: Sam Giancana Pt. 1

Days before he was set to testify at a Senate hearing, one of Chicago’s most notorious mob bosses was found dead in his home. Sam Giancana was once a teenage getaway driver who rose to the top of Chicago’s Outfit, becoming a kingpin with influence and power on a national scale. And yet his dealings with the Kennedys and the CIA turned him into a target within his own ranks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023-01-03•36mins
#43

Best of 2022: The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders Pt. 2

It’s believed that the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Killer murdered eight women during the 1970s. Investigators speculated it could have been the work of the Zodiac Killer or even Ted Bundy. But a recent discovery has led to another possible suspect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-27•38mins
#44

Best of 2022: The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders Pt. 1

Santa Rosa was a safe, peaceful town going into the 1970s. But in a few short years, police realized that five hitchhiking young women had disappeared. Four of them were found dead. And a serial killer was on the loose in their small town. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-27•33mins
#45

The Dayton Christmas Killings Pt. 2

The spree continues into Christmas Day and beyond, during which the teen gang murders their third, fourth, fifth and sixth victims. After a tip, police catch the group wearing victims’ clothing, driving a victim’s stolen car, and in possession of the guns they used in their murders. A Parcast holiday special from Serial Killers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-21•32mins
#46

The Dayton Christmas Killings Pt. 1

In the early hours of Christmas Eve 1992, a senseless murder in Dayton, Ohio, marks the beginning of a rampage. What started as a desire for Christmas cash turns into a three-day killing spree that leaves six people dead. Even more shocking was that the brazen killers were just teens. A Parcast holiday special from Serial Killers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-21•35mins
#47

E328: Charles Francis Hall

A 19th-century adventurer obsessed with reaching the North Pole set out in the summer of 1871. But the Arctic expedition would be the death of him. Was it the severe weather conditions that bested the seasoned explorer — as the ship’s doctor always claimed? Or did someone onboard have it out for the commander? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-13•48mins
#48

Solved or Unsolved? The Death of Ned Doheny Pt. 2

The deaths at Greystone mansion were far from straightforward — at least as far as Detective Leslie White was concerned. But shortly after the DA announced they’d be launching a full investigation, they closed the case. The official narrative was that Hugh Plunkett shot Ned Doheny before turning the gun on himself. The evidence tells a different story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-06•44mins
#49

Kim Kardashian’s The System — All Episodes Out Now

Carter introduces Spotify’s latest true crime podcast, delving into the case of Kevin Keith. Listen to an exclusive clip from the first episode right here, then head to The System to finish the episode and hear more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-12-02•8mins
#50

Solved or Unsolved? The Death of Ned Doheny Pt. 1

Ned Doheny found himself embroiled in a huge bribery scandal. On behalf of his father, oil baron Edward Doheny, Ned illegally obtained drilling leases from the U.S. government. His close friend and personal secretary, Hugh Plunkett, was present for the transaction and would likely have to testify. But before either man could even walk into a courtroom, they would wind up dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022-11-29•47mins

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