From cheer to fear, the 2 moms highlighted in this episode don't necessarily embody the idea of school spirit. This week, Amy and Chris detail 2 "cheerleader moms" who went a little too far to help their daughters make the squad. First up is Wanda Holloway, better known as the Texas Cheerleader Mom. Wanda hired a hitman to kill her daughter's cheerleading rival's mother to give her own daughter the upper hand. She enlisted her brother-in-law to carry out the murder, but he decided to take this information to police. And secondly is the story of Nancy Motes, a Kilgore, Texas mother who kidnapped her daughter's competition at gunpoint. On December 29, 2016, Nancy's daughter failed to make the Rangerettes, an elite dance team. Nancy didn't take too kindly too this and decided to take matters into her own hands. Nancy went to the home of Director Dana Blair's home and forced Dana's daughter Alexa into her car, wielding a disguise and a gun. Alexa was ultimately able to escape and Nancy was quickly arrested. Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/recaps Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bind, Torture, Kill - that was the modus operandi of Dennis Rader, better known as the BTK killer. Dennis terrorized the midwest for decades, breaking into women's homes, tying them, brutally torturing them, and ultimately strangling them to death. Dennis was able to scope out his victims in broad daylight by using his position as a security alarm technician to survey his future victims. He also taunted investigators and the public at large by sending letters detailing his crimes, but it would be this cockiness that would ultimately lead to his arrest. Amy and Chris break down Dennis' incredible double life that allowed him to hide in plain sight, and his horrifying reign of terror, which all started with the murder of 4 members of the Otero family, including the 2 young children. Dennis continued until 1991, claiming his 10th and final victim. He is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences in the El Dorado Correctional Facility in Kansas. Download Best Fiends FREE today on the App Store or Google Play! Take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order today by going to Prose.com/TRUE Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What should've been the honeymoon of her dreams became a total nightmare. Anni Dewani and her new husband wealthy businessman Shrien Dewani were surrounded by hijackers in South Africa while touring the country in a taxi. Shrien was ejected from the vehicle, assaulted and robbed. Anni was taken, and her body was found later in the back of a taxi with a single bullet wound kill shot. This week, Amy and Chris detail the events leading up to and including Anni's murder, as well as the many characters who have emerged as suspects, including her husband with whom Anni was reported to have a very rocky relationship. So who was responsible for Anni's killing? Was this a case of a random hijacking by Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, with the aide of hotel receptionist Monde Mbolombo, which is the official story? Did the taxi driver, Zola Tongo, have something to do with it? Did her husband plan the killing to cover up a secret relationship? Or was this something else entirely? Despite the arrests and trials, we still don't have all of the answers. Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/recaps Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pam Hupp is infamous, even spawning an upcoming drama series on NBC about her life and crimes. This week, Chris and Amy detail Pam Hupp's conviction for the killing of Louis Gumpenberger claiming self defense, but how suspicious deaths have marked many moments of her life. Pam's reign of terror takes us to a suburb near St. Louis, Missouri. Pam's supposed friend was given a terminal diagnosis, and Pam seemingly swopped in and was able to secure money from Betsy Faria's life insurance. But Betsy wouldn't die in a hospital, but instead was stabbed over 50 times, placing the blame squarely on Betsy's husband, Russ Faria, despite having a solid alibi. Russ was ultimately acquitted of the crime after spending nearly 4 years locked up. This wasn't the end of Pam benefiting from a loved one dying under suspicious circumstances. Years later, Pam's own mother died in a bizarre accident, all the while having hundreds of thousands of dollars waiting for Pam in life insurance and inheritances. And although Pam was highly suspected and the death was later reclassified as being "uncertain" instead of an accidental death, no official charges were ever filed against her. But despite all these mysterious deaths, Pam didn't land herself in prison until she was convicted of killing Louis Gumpenberger, a man with severe physical and mental illness following a serious car accident. This time there was no doubt that Pam was the shooter, but she told prosecutors it was in an act of self-defense. Pam's path of destruction has many twists and turns, so check out this week's episode to get all the details in half the time. Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's a new year, but these 2 still unsolved killing sprees are remain the same. This week, Amy and Chris bring you 2 shocking crimes that have remained unsolved for decades and have haunted the surrounding communities who simply want justice. First up is the case of the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders in 1991. On the night of Friday, December 6, 1991, a local yogurt shop known as I Can't Believe It's Yogurt had caught fire, resulting in firefighters responding to the scene. Once the fire had been extinguished, they discovered the dead, charred and nude bodies of 4 teenage girls, 13-year-old Amy Ayers, 17-year-old Eliza Thomas, 17-year-old Jennifer Harbison and Jennifer's 15-year-old sister Sarah Harbison. Teenage boys were subsequently arrested, confessed and were tried with the murders, but DNA evidence ultimately absolved them all of the murders. Other suspects have been named, but the crime is still officially a cold case. Next up is the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre in Las Cruces, New Mexico. On the morning of February 10, 1990, 2 men entered the bowling alley in an effort to rob the place. When the smoke cleared, 4 people were dead and 3 others were injured from point-blank gunshots. The witnesses were able to describe the murderers and a massive manhunt went underway, but no one has been arrested for the crimes. If you have information on this crime, please call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). There are similarities to both cases, despite being committed hundreds of miles away from each other. So are they connected? And will they ever be solved? Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abigail Williams and Liberty German were walking along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana on February 13, 2017, Snapchatting along the way. A few of those videos captures what would potentially be their killer. On Valentine's Day, Abigail and Libery's bodies were found, with investigators concluding that this was no accident, the girls were murdered. There have been 5 years of clues and analysis, even a few people named as persons of interest, but no arrests have been made. That being said, recent developments may finally lead us to the true killer. Investigators say that Liberty "Libby" was talking to someone online under the name "anthony_shots", now identified as Kegan Anthony Kline. Kline used fake pictures and fake info to lure children into sending nudes and other graphic material. The worse part? Kline is currently not named as a suspect or person of interest. So what do you think, is Kline responsible, or is it another murderer who is still roaming free? Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/TRUE Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cozy up by the fire, open up your presents, and listen to 3 terrifying true crime Christmas stories that will keep up all holiday weekend. First up is the strange disappearance of the Martin Family. In 1958, an entire family of 5 vanished without a trace after leaving a Christmas party. Months after their disappearance, the remains of the younger daughters, Susan and Virginia, Many theories have surfaced after the details of the disappearance have been made public, but the rest of the family, or even their family car, have never been found to this day. Ronald Gene Simmons. Ronald was troubled to say the least, who fathered a child with his daughter and beat his wife. One day, Ronald went on a city-wide killing spree including members of his family and infants. He killed 16 people and injured another 4 before finally being arrested without incident. After his spree ended, the details of Ronald's sordid family secrets came to light. Finally, there's the case of Anderson Family, better known as the 2007 Carnation murders. During a Christmas Eve dinner, Michele Anderson and her boyfriend Joseph Thomas McEnroe systematically killed 6 people of Michele's family. Michele had grown angry after feeling slighted out of money and plotted to kill everyone in the home that day, which included 3 generations of the Anderson family. Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/TRUE Take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order today! Go to Prose.com/TRUE Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You've all heard the stories of rockstars dying in sudden, tragic and often mysterious ways. This week, Amy and Chris dive a little deeper into several shocking rock and roll deaths and bring you details you've likely never heard before. River Phoenix famously died at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, and you've likely heard the heartbreaking 911 call his brother, Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, had to make moments before River was pronounced death. The story often goes that River overdosed after battle with a drug addiction, but the true story isn't so black and white. Did River OD at the club, was he poisoned, or was it something else entirely? Since the security tapes of that night were destroyed, we might never know the true story. But there's even more to the story Kurt Cobain was found dead from a shotgun wound and surrounded by drugs. There has been much speculation as to whether Kurt actually took his own life or if he he murdered, potentially by his own famous, yet troubled wife, Courtney Love. Kurt was known to have a severe heroin addiction stemming from chronic pain, and his music often alluded to suicide. But the circumstances and evidence in the case are murky at best. And finally, Jimi Hendrix died after taking too many sleeping pills and eventually choking on his own vomit, a tragedy. But did Jimi's nefarious manager actually have something to do with it? Mike Jeffrey was supposedly stealing money from Jimi and Jimi had plans to dump him as his manager. And the amount of wine found near his body, yet not on his system makes some believe he was essentially waterboarded by vino. Try 5 pairs of glasses at home for free at warbyparker.com/TRUE Ana Luisa pieces start at $39 with sales up to 25% off. Get your Holiday gift on https://shop.analuisa.com/true Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a 1965 Rolling Stone Magazine interview, John Lennon said something that eerily predicted the way he was going to die. He mentioned being shot "by some loonie" just a few years before he was shot to death by Mark David Chapman. This week on True Crime Recaps, Amy and Chris delve deep into that interview, as well as the life and death of the famous (and infamous) Beatle. You'll hear snippets from this prophetic interview as well as hearing from the killer himself as he explains his confounding motive, the unfortunate influence that J.D. Salinger's book "The Catcher in the Rye" had on Mark, and the final moments of John Lennon. Mark David Chapman is yet again eligible for parole in August 2022. Get 10% Off by visiting Betterhelp.com/recaps Take advantage of SimpliSafe’s Holiday deals and get 40% off your new home security system by visiting SIMPLISAFE.com/recap Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are a series of accidental drownings actually the work of a cabal of killers? This week, Amy and Chris bring you the cases collectively known as the Smiley Face Murders, but there is not universal consensus that all these men dying in similar fashions is the work of killers. Chris and Amy walk you through the evidence that point to a gang of killers potentially targeting college-aged men throughout the country. Virtually every suspicious death goes like this: a young white male is found drowned after leaving a party. He is found with everything in his pockets except his phone. And nearby there is an eerily graffitied smiley face. New York detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, along with criminal justice professor Dr. Lee Gilbertson have devised this theory to explain nearly 50 similar deaths. But various police organizations reject the theory and believe them largely to be drunken accidents. So are all roughly 45 of these cases just a series of tragic coincidences or is there a serial killer or killers walking free among us? Right now, get 15% OFF sitewide with code HOLIDAY at BUYRAYCON.com/recaps Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at Truebill.com/TRUE Send your true crime suggestions to hello@truecrimerecaps! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to https://truecrimerecaps.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/TrueCrimeRecapsPodcast Follow TCR on YouTube here! Follow TCR on Instagram here! Follow TCR on Facebook here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices