midwretched

Episode 48: Leslie Irvine: The serial killer who got his conviction overturned

Southern Indiana, 1954, a string of burglaries and murders rips across the region. A troop of teenage boys bravely hunt down information that leads to an arrest.  The local media swarm the police station and courts, leaking vital information and causing a flurry around the offender, Leslie “Mad Dog” Irvin.  A jail escape only brings more of a media storm, leading Irvin to appeal his case all the way to the US Supreme Court.  Mick breaks down the story of the serial killer who managed to overturn his entire conviction.  What went wrong?  And what did we do to make sure it never happens again?

Episode 47: The Bath School Disaster

School violence sometimes seems like a modern phenomenon, but a deeper look reveals that schools have been subject to senseless bloodshed for far longer than the 1999 Columbine shooting--especially in the United States. In this episode, Tommy takes us back to the 1920’s for an in-depth look at what remains the deadliest school mass casualty event in U.S. history: the Bath School Disaster. 

Episode 46: Season 1 Updates!

This week's episode is a bit of a change from our typical format.  Tommy and Mick review updates from past cases and provide a few "Opes!" and reflections and things to think about.
Cases reviewed: Ericka Baker, The Cleveland Strangler, Sydney Loofe, Bobbie Joe Stinnet, Alyssa Bustamante, Belle Gunness, Shawn Hornback, Shaun Grate, Sister Margaret Ann Pahl

Episode 45: Khoua Her: A Family Massacre

A woman calls 911, confused and disoriented.  Before the operator can understand what is going on, the woman confesses to killing her 6 children.  In this week’s case, Mick tells the tale of Khoua Her, a woman with a traumatic past who does the unthinkable.  We look for the “whys” and try to make sense of this tragic case. 

Please forgive us for the audio quality! Mick didn’t realize the mic wasn’t working until she went to edit it.

Episode 44: The Murder of Kari Nunemaker

Kari Nunemaker was a beautiful, vibrant 16 year old girl growing up in the sleepy small town of Wakarusa, Indiana. On January 28, 1991, she was excited for a fun day of shopping and watching soccer games with close friends. When she didn't return home that night, the clock began ticking on a vicious murder that would take 14 years to see solved.

Episode 43: The Murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl

This week’s episode takes us back to 1980s Toledo, OH, where we explore corruption, abuse, and murder in the Catholic Church.  When the accomplished and respected Sister Margaret Ann Pahl is murder, a local priest becomes the prime suspect.  But the investigation is quickly shut down and any progress is stunted.  Decades later, when a survivor of clerical abuse comes forward to name her abusers, that priest is back in the spotlight.  In this episode, communities, cultures, and crime collide, and Tommy and Mick struggle to tease out the many threads of this story.

*In this episode, we will discuss issues of child sexual abuse and clerical abuse*

Episode 41: The I-70 Strangler/Herb Baumeister Case(s)

In the 1980’s, amid the boom of up and coming suburban sprawl near Indianapolis, a serial strangler targeted gay men and male sex workers, leaving their abused bodies along the I-70 corridor. As the 80’s rolled over into the 90’s, those murders suddenly stopped, but a new series of vicious murders seemed to be an escalation of those original crimes. Join Tommy as she guides Mick through these cases and into the life of one of the Midwest’s most prolific and heartless serial killers.

Episode 41: The Death of Kelly Stough

Kelly Stough was a beautiful young woman living in Detroit. She had a loving family and dreams of becoming a designer. Sadly, her life was cut short. Her death triggered a nationwide conversation about trans rights and hate crime laws. Although this 2018 case is still sitting in court, Mick walks us through the known events of that day and each side of this case.  We also celebrate the life and spirit of Kelly

Episode 40: Anita Knutson

18 year old Anita Knutson was a vibrant, beloved college student living and preparing for a bright future in Minot, North Dakota. Known for her big, fun personality and deep sense of compassion, when she was murdered, it was both an unspeakable tragedy and a dark mystery. Who killed Anita Knutson, and why? 

Episode 39: The Brown's Chicken Massacre

A random mass shooting takes the lives of 7 workers at the Brown's Chicken and Pasta in Palatine, IL.  Despite the brutality, few clues are left behind at the scene.  When police investigations turn up little but false confession after false confession, families begin to lose hope.  Until 9 years later when two women finally come forward with information.  What happened? What motivated such a senseless massacre?  Mick shares the story of one of the bloodiest nights in Illinois history.