Until the End of Crime

23. Thanksgiving Massacre: Sitton Home

In the quiet neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida, the Sitton family prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving 2009, a day that would forever change their lives. As the aroma of turkey filled the air and laughter echoed through their home, 6-year-old Makayla Hope delighted her family with impromptu songs, blissfully unaware of the sinister turn the evening would take. With 16 loved ones gathered around the table, the atmosphere was festive, but as night fell, a shadow crept through the halls. What was meant to be a celebration spiraled into chaos when gunshots shattered the holiday spirit. Amid the chaos, Jim and Muriel Sitton faced an unimaginable horror as their precious daughter lay asleep in her room, vulnerable to the darkness that had infiltrated their home. As the frantic search for the shooter began, questions loomed: What drove a family member to unleash such violence on those they once called kin? Join us as we unravel the chilling events of that fateful night, exploring the depths of familial loyalty, betrayal, and the haunting aftermath of tragedy.
Sources:
Oxygen. Homicide for the Holidays: A Deadly Thanksgiving.
CBS News Miami. Thanksgiving Massacre Plea Deal Expected. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/thanksgiving-massacre-plea-deal-expected/
Florida Headline News Radio. 10 Years After the Jupiter Thanksgiving Murders, a Family Remembers. Retrieved from https://www.wptv.com/news/region-n-palm-beach-county/jupiter/10-years-after-the-jupiter-thanksgiving-murders-a-family-remembers
CBS News. Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs, Then Executed Family. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thanksgiving-massacre-witness-paul-merhige-ate-dinner-sang-songs-then-executed-family/
Wikipedia. 2009 Thanksgiving Murders. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Thanksgiving_murders
Yahoo News. Thanksgiving Massacre 2009 Highlights Today's Memorial Service. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/news/thanksgiving-massacre-2009-highlights-todays-130038254.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJE2YYWyKWEXOZ4mVqHtescKEgaOtZW2f3FuJiAGuuT0TNj4Bm9Y3xtwmB2FKoDNlc6L54fYPDHBSqYdHVNoAP2s0Xxr5ciRBHUP1Jlp1s3ij1bnPYVyjfy2_UYiSNNOCsEzb-D5f83wtOMqASbhgwPGA6Fw_nL5JQlAMEYxj_A1
CBS News. Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs, Then Executed Family. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thanksgiving-massacre-witness-paul-merhige-ate-dinner-sang-songs-then-executed-family/

22. The Candy Man: Serial Killer Dean Corll

A friendly neighbor. Free candy. A quiet street in Houston Heights. It seemed like the perfect community—until boys began to vanish. In this episode, we explore a story of trust betrayed and the dark secrets that lay hidden behind closed doors. What really happened in Houston Heights, and how did it take so long for anyone to notice? 
Sources:
DeLong, William. The Twisted Tale Of Dean Corll, The ‘Candy Man’ Killer Who Terrorized Texas. AllThatsInteresting.com, January 17, 2022. Accessed October 27, 2024.
Conaway, James. The Last Kid on the Block. Texas Monthly, April 1976.
Acosta, N. Killed by the 'Candy Man': Investigators Release Image of Serial Killer's Victim Whose ID Remains Mystery. People.com, August 9, 2023.
Henderson Vaughan, E. Candy Man Victim: New clues in serial killer mystery. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Hollandsworth, S. The Lost Boys. Texas Monthly, March 7, 2024.
Homer, M., & White, G. 50 years after victim of Houston “Candy Man” killer Dean Corll was found, there’s a new sketch in efforts to identify him. KHOU 11, August 7, 2023.
Olsen, L. Why Dean Corll, the “Candyman” killer, should still give you nightmares. Houston Chronicle, August 19, 2023.
Sharma, A. The Candy Man Killer: Who was Dean Corll and what did he do? Yahoo Entertainment, December 12, 2023.

21. The Murder of Deliana Heng

While studying abroad in Ontario, Deliana Heng was viciously attacked in the apartment she shared with her sister. Detectives were thrown off by the crime, unable to determine if it was staged or if they were missing a key detail at the crime scene; the key detail came in the form of curiously placed fingerprints on a glass left by the sink. The fingerprints were left by someone with Type A blood that was a secretor. As the investigation began narrowing down on potential suspects, a trip to the gym helps them catch the man responsible for the senseless act. 
Sources:
Cher19994861. (2023, March 22). Killer Tien Po Su: Robert should have chance for early parole, judge told. WordPress. https://cher19994861.wordpress.com/2023/03/22/killer-tien-po-su-robert-should-have-chance-for-early-parole-judge-told/
Daily Mail. (2023, January 7). The moment a convicted killer is caught on camera [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N71hBOK4Ja0
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Faint hope clause. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faint_hope_clause
Morrow, S. (2008, November 19). Killer’s faint hope application rejected. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/killers-faint-hope-application-rejected/article1028172/Douglas, J. E. (1997). Journey into darkness: The real-life story of the legendary FBI profiler. Scribner.
Loop News. (2023, October 27). The day in Grenada's history: Execution of Maurice Bishop. Loop Caribbean News. https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/day-grenadas-history-execution-maurice-bishop

20. The Murder of the Harper Family

In 2003, a horrifying discovery rocked Bakersfield, California: five members of the Harper family, including three young children, were brutally murdered in their home. Behind the crime was a web of deceit spun by Vincent Brothers, a respected vice principal who thought he could evade justice with an elaborate alibi. But investigators weren’t easily fooled. With groundbreaking forensic techniques—and a few surprising clues—the truth emerged, unraveling a tale of betrayal and cold-blooded calculation. Join us as we explore how justice caught up to Vincent Brothers, exposing a shocking story that still haunts the community.
Sources:
Oxygen - Family MassacreArticle: "Vincent Brothers Slaughtered Family Caught"URL: https://www.oxygen.com/family-massacre/crime-news/vincent-brothers-slaughtered-family-caught
Wikipedia - Vincent BrothersURL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Brothers
Criminally Intrigued BlogArticle: "The Bakersfield Parricide"URL: https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2017/9/24/the-bakersfield-parricide
Vocal Media - CriminalArticle: "Vincent Brothers: The Vice Principal Who Killed His Family Because They Were a Financial Burden"URL: https://vocal.media/criminal/vincent-brothers-the-vice-principal-who-killed-his-family-because-they-were-a-financial-burden
NBC NewsArticle: Coverage of Vincent Brothers’ CaseURL: https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32086189
Find A Grave - Joanie HarperMemorial page: Joanie HarperURL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7747684/joanie-harper
KGET - Kern County Crime WatchArticle: "Vincent Brothers Killed His Family 20 Years Ago"URL: https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/kern-crime-vincent-brothers-killed-his-family-20-years-ago/
Fox News RadioPodcast/Article: "An Evil Vice Principal: The Case of Vincent Brothers"URL: https://radio.foxnews.com/2023/12/19/an-evil-vice-principal-the-case-of-vincent-brothers/
Murderpedia - Vincent BrothersURL: https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/brothers-vincent.htm
UC Davis NewsArticle: "Buggy Entomology Prof Helps Unravel Murder"URL: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/buggy-entomology-prof-helps-unravel-murder

19. The Kidnapping, Torture, and Death of Junko Furuta

Junko Furuta was biking home from her part-time job when she was involved in a staged accident that resulted in her bicycle being stolen and a friendly face offered to escort her home...but she wasn't taken home, she was kidnapped and held for over a month, subjected to sexual assault, torture, and eventually murder. 
Sources:
https://medium.com/@lisariggio1994/40-day-nightmare-the-torture-and-murder-of-junko-furuta-bd2e131ad18d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Junko_Furuta
https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/junko-furuta-killer-again-on-trial-chaos-in-the-courtroom/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218631863/junko-furuta
https://allthatsinteresting.com/junko-furuta

18. The Murder of Sara Ambrusko Tokars

In 1992, the brutal murder of Sara Tokars shattered the peaceful suburbs of Atlanta, leaving her two young sons to witness a crime that would haunt them forever. What seemed like a random act of violence soon unraveled into a complex web of dark secrets and hidden motives. In this episode, we delve into the shocking investigation and the lasting impact it had on Sara’s family, as they struggled to rebuild their lives in the wake of unimaginable trauma.
Sources:
Fretthold & Hamp Cremation & Funeral Services & Hamp Funeral Home, Inc. (2020, April 27). Michael Tokars Obituary. Retrieved from frettholdandhamp.com.
Harrison, E. (1993, March 1). Haunted by Clues From the Grave. Los Angeles Times.
McDonald, R. (2020, May 14). Sara’s Story. Atlanta Magazine.
McDonald, R. R. (2020, May 13). Former Attorney Fred Tokars Dies in Prison, 28 Years After Arranging Wife’s Murder. law.com.

17. Serial Killer Couple: Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez

A Lonely Hearts advertisement, a misunderstood religion, a glandular condition, a traumatic brain injury, greed, and a desire for affection...this episode is all over the place, literally. When Martha Beck received a response to her Lonely Hearts advertisement from Raymond Fernandez, she picked up her life again and moved from Florida to New York. When she found out she had moved in with a criminal, she asked, "How can I help?" This lead the couple down a dark path that ended with each of them in an electric chair. 
Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Fernandez_and_Martha_Beck
https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/beck-martha.htm
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-lonely-hearts-killers-are-executed

16. The Shooting of Al Benitez

In this episode, Cameron and Hayden unravel a chilling tale of love turned deadly in the quiet town of Kingsville, Texas. What begins as a seemingly normal relationship between a former border patrol agent, Al Benitez, and an aspiring police officer, Elizabeth Reynolds, soon takes a darker turn. As cracks start to show in their relationship, Al finds himself caught in a violent attack that leaves him fighting for his life.
But the real shock comes when investigators discover that someone close to Al may have played a key role in the attempt on his life. As secrets are revealed and loyalties are questioned, the hosts delve into the psychological twists of a case where obsession and betrayal collide. Tune in as Cameron and Hayden piece together the events of that fateful morning and explore the dangerous lengths one person is willing to go to keep control.
Sources:
A&E (Director). (2008, December 8). EPISODE 3: Jewish Federation; Alberto; Tamara (season 2, episode 3) [Streaming].
Snapped, EPISODE 5: Elizabeth Reynolds (season 6, episode 5). (2007, November 4). Oxygen.

15. The Bling Ring

In 2008, a group of bored teenagers living only miles from Los Angeles had an idea that started off relatively small, but quickly grew into a scheme that allowed them to clear millions of dollars worth from the homes of the rich and even the famous. With the inception of social media and the credibility lent by celebrity, the group was caught and dubbed the Bling Ring, a name almost as flashy as the items they were able to walk away with for months. 
Sources:
Alexis Haines. (2024, September 16). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Haines
Blayden-Ryall, M. (Director). (2022). The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist [Film]. Channel 4 Television & Double Act Productions.
Bling Ring. (2024, September 1). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bling_Ring
Carr, E. L. (Director). (2021). The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring [Film]. HBO Documentary Films, Story Syndicate, & Carr Lot Productions.
Coppola, S. (Director). (2013). The Bling Ring [Film]. American Zoetrope, FilmNation Entertainment, & NALA Films.
Kaplan, I. (2023, September 29). With Erin Lee Carr's 'The Ringleader,' Rachel Lee finally tells her side of the Bling Ring case. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-09-29/the-ringleader-bling-ring-rachel-lee
Lembeck, M. (Director). (2011). The Bling Ring [Film]. Dick Clark Productions & SilverScreen Pictures.

14. The Story of Rodney Hyden and Cocaine Island

In this episode, Cameron and Hayden delve into the bizarre and almost unbelievable story of Rodney Hyden, a seemingly ordinary man who found himself caught up in a farcical quest for buried cocaine in Puerto Rico. What began as a tale told over drinks at a local gathering spiraled into a federal sting operation, resulting in Rodney’s arrest and a strange journey through the criminal justice system.
Sources: 
Netflix Documentary: The Legend of Cocaine Island (2018) directed by T. L.
Article: "The Crazy (True) Story of One Man’s Hunt for $2 Million in Buried Cocaine Treasure" by Nich Schager, The Daily Beast (2018).