midwretched

Ruthie Mae McCoy is beginning to thrive with the support of mental health and social services. She aims to work her way out of Chicago's Abbott Housing Projects. But her life is cut short when someone breaks in through her bathroom mirror. Mick and Tommy discuss Ruthie Mae's murder, and how it became the inspiration (or not) for one of the greatest horror movies of all time. But more importantly, we try to understand how this happened and the people involved.

Brian Shaffer vanished without a trace at a point in his life many would think was his prime. A handsome, well liked, successful medical student, Brian went out with friends in the bustling downtown bar district in Columbus, Ohio—in 2006 considered to be “the most surveilled city in America”—-and never made it home. This is a case oft-told, but perhaps, Tommy thinks, underdiscussed. Join us as we examine the disappearance of Brian Shaffer. 

This story took the media by storm. But with all the publicity around the Natalia Grace story, Natalia herself somehow got lost in the dramatic narrative and misinformation. Mick attempts to look at the girl at the center of this story, exploring the facts that we know and conceptualizing what happened along the way. This is our first case back after our long hiatus, and we are still trying to get our legs back under us.

First off: complete apologies. We never, ever intended to disappear like that.  But we swear there was a legitimate reason. We're excited to get back into it. Take a second and catch up with us, listen to our excuses, and our plans for the future of Midwretched.

In Part 2 of our telling of Ted Kaczynski, we discuss the timeline of the bombings alongside his own writings and journals, focusing on his motivations and mental health decline. 

This episode was recorded Thursday 6/8, just two days before Ted Kaczynski was found dead in his prison cell. Any references to him being alive were made when he was known to be alive. In this episode, Mick reviews Ted Kacyznski's early life, including myths and stories surrounding his development and education. And discuss what took him from a painfully bland  burnt out gifted kid to a domestic terrorist.

On June 3, 1997, 19-year-old single mother Rachel Timmerman told her mom she was going on a date with a man she met at work, and that she would be taking her 11-month-old, Shannon, with her. About a month later, Rachel's chained and bound body would be pulled from Oxford Lake in Newaygo County, Michigan. As this case unfolded, it would become a significant story in the landscape of Michigan criminal justice. Join Tommy and Mick as Tommy runs us through a tumultuous investigation of a true monster in Michigan.

On an  April day in 1964, a joyful new mother enjoys her first days with her infant son. But when that baby suddenly disappears from the hospital, it sends the entire city into a whirlwind. After nearly two years, the family is reunited with the boy they think is their child. Decades will go by before that child grows up to uncover the mystery of who he really is, and what happened to the real Paul Fronczak.

The history of the Ku Klux Klan is deeply intertwined with the history of the United States and, arguably, there's no better demonstration of this than the rise and fall of the Indiana Klan—branch of the KKK borne out from one man's megalomaniacal need for power. When the violent rape and subsequent death of a young female politician happens at the hands of this man, the face of the KKK would be forever altered. Join Tommy as she runs Mick through this horrifying chapter of Midwestern history.

In February 1983, two boys in St. Louis enter an abandoned building looking for scrap metal and find a horrific scene that traumatized the city. Mick and Tommy discuss the still unsolved murder of Precious Hope, St. Louis's Little Jane Doe. A massive search leads nowhere and desperate police take desperate measures. We talk about theories of what happened and what hope there is for this case to finally be solved.

Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton were last seen playing outside on Thanksgiving Day 2010, appearing as carefree and playful as they normally did to their neighbors in Morenci, Michigan. Less than 24 hours later, the boys were missing and their father was laid up in an Ohio hospital with a busted ankle. The story that follows is one of family drama, pointed fingers, impossible seeming stories, and questions that all boil down to one man withholding the truth. Join us as Tommy and Mick dive deep into the disappearance of the Skelton brothers.

In a small town in Michigan, a young girl is trapped in her bedroom, unable to escape while her house catches fire. When Calista Springer lost her life, many initially thought of it as a tragic accident for her family. However, as the investigation unfolded, many in her community came forward to express their long-running concerns about her safety, with mounting accusations of abuse and neglect charged at her parents. Tommy and Mick explore the potential role of disability and stigma in Calista's case. They also discuss the issue of Filicide and the National Disability Day of Mourning. https://disability-memorial.org/

Every year, thousands of teens are taken from their homes and sent to “specialty schools and programs” for Trouble Teens. In this episode, we discuss the history and practices of the Troubled Teen Industry through reports from one Iowa school that was successfully taken down by the FBI and other investigative organizations. But only after dozens of reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of minors. 

Many people with more than a passing interest in true crime know about the double murder of two young girls in Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana in 2017. What fewer are aware of is the brutal arson a few months earlier that took the lives of four children in a neighboring town. Join in as Tommy leads us through a tough series of questions: what happened to Keyara, Keyana, Kerielle, and Kionnie? Why? How is it being investigated? And, finally, what is going on in Carroll County, Indiana?

In the summer of 2009 and 2010, young girls in Chicago and the southern suburbs are going missing. Despite a clear pattern, little information is available about what is happening. Until a brave teen steps forward to report her attack, leading to the capture of a serial killer living just outside of the city. But despite a quick capture,12 years would go by before Kiara Windom, Kamika Coleman, and Mariah Edwards would get any sense of justice.

On a lovely, typical Saturday in 2015, 21 year old Diamond Bynum and her two year old nephew, King, started their day in their usual way: breakfast with Diamond's stepmom, warm baths, and a mid-morning nap. When the stepmother woke up, Diamond and King were nowhere to be found. Gary, Indiana police were immediately on alert for the pair, who are considered endangered due to King's age and Diamond's unique medical challenges. Join Tommy as she runs Mick through this complex missing persons' case, made all the more difficult due to the tumultuous context that is the city of Gary.

Mary Stauffer and her young daughter, Beth, go out for final errands before leaving the country for a multi-year mission trip. But while leaving a salon, they are kidnapped by a mysterious man. While they kept in a closet for 7 weeks, they never lost hope that they would find their way home. Mick and Tommy discuss this survival story, and the tragic loss of 8 year-old Jason Wilkman who's life was taken for one man's obsession.

Timmothy Pitzen was a vibrant and well-loved six-year-old living with his family in Aurora, Illinois--until the day that his mother picked him up early from kindergarten and took him on a vacation from which neither would return. What happened to Timmothy Pitzen? Were those final few days in various midwestern resort towns his last ones, or is he out there, alive, well, and with no knowledge of who he is? Join Tommy as she guides Mick through the twists and turns of this roadtrip gone wrong. 

It's one of the most well-known and well-documented exorcisms in history. And yet, we still know very little about the woman known as Anna Ecklund, her life and her experiences. But in a tiny town in Iowa, a woman undergoes the terrifying ordeal of an exorcism for many months. Anna (also known as Emma Schmidt) emerges proclaiming to be saved from the demons. But what really happened during those months in 1928? Mick and Tommy explore the many interpretations and grey areas in this event.

Villisca, Iowa is famous for one thing and one thing only: the Villisca Axe Murders. On a balmy night in June, 1912, a mysterious predator sat in wait in the attic of the Moore family as they attended a youth service at their local church. When they came home, what unfolded would widely be considered a crime of the century—the brutal slaying of two adults and their four children and two little girls staying with them that night. Listen as Tommy details the story that took the wreck of the Titanic off of the front page of newspapers around the country.

Today we got the opportunity to speak with Abby Williams, the daughter of Crystal Grubb. She shares memories of her mother and the family's ongoing fight for justice. She invites listeners to join her family in the annual Crystal Grubb Memorial Walk on October 1st in Bloomington, IN. Hear more about Crystal's story in Season 2 Episodes 7 & 8

This week is a revisit and a re-telling of the case of Erica Baker. On a mild February evening in 1999, the 9-year-old Erica Baker takes her dog for a walk at the park near her home. When she doesn't return by sundown, a frantic search begins. Erica's disappearance changed her community for years. And the family continues to search for answers decades later.

Going off to college is one of the most exciting events in a young person's life, and so many seek friendship and belonging through  fraternities and sororities. While most people will graduate from university relatively unscathed, for those who endure hazing, Greek life can leave indelible scars--both physical and emotional. For Colin Wiant and Stone Foltz, fraternity hazing would prove to be both horrifying and fatal. Join Tommy as she shares the stories of two promising young men and their families, connected by tragedy and united in a fight for legal change. 

Marcus Fiesel was a lively, energetic toddler with developmental disabilities.  He was placed in the care of Liz and David Carroll by the Ohio office of Job and Family Services.  But after only a few months in the foster care system, little Marcus lost his life.  Mick tells the story of Marcus's short life and the legacy he left on the foster care system. 

In this episode we continue our discussion of the spree of killings committed by Nikko Jenkins and his family.  They recount the crimes, the confession, and the courtroom drama, all to try to make sense of these series of senseless killings.

Nikko Jenkins, the young man who terrorized Omaha, Nebraska for weeks.  His killing spree ended the lives of 4 people.  In this deep-dive, two parter, we take a good look at who Nikko Jenkins was and what led to his crimes.  We'll ask some questions about the role of different systems in raising a killer.

In the summer of 1995, Stefanie Morey was a pretty typical, beloved 13 year old girl whiling away that last middle school summer in her hometown of Marissa, Illinois. In this listener request, Tommy takes us through the tragedy of Stefanie's murder and a devotion to Stefanie's memory with the hopes that her case not be lost to time and small town obscurity.

On October 6, 2002, 11 year old Shawn Hornbeck vanished into thin air while riding his bicycle along the country roads of his hometown of Richwoods, Missouri, leaving behind no trace of what might have happened. In the years following his disappearance, his parents founded organizations to help find other missing children, channeling their grief into action, while leads dried up and the case went cold. When 13 year old Ben Ownby disappeared under similar circumstances from nearby Beaumont in 2007, a case unlike any other would be cracked wide open.

A family tries to start fresh in a new town.  But tragedy strikes the entire home and leaves the only survivor with nothing but amnesia and a feeling of helplessness in the fight for justice for the murder of her children.  Mick tells the story of the brutal attack on a family that ended the lives of two bright and beautiful children. 

In Part 1 of the cases of missing Lauren Spierer and murdered Crystal Grubb, Tommy took us through timelines, important places, and persons of interest. In Part 2, she takes us through a deeper look at theories in both cases in the hopes that someday both women find justice in Bloomington. 

Bloomington is a city with a split identity: one part idyllic college town, another part gateway to Indiana's meth country. Each half hides the secret of what happened to two women: missing Indiana University sophomore Lauren Spierer and murdered mother of two Crystal Grubb. In part one of this two parter, Tommy lays out these mysterious disappearances and the disparities in local and national media coverage of each. 

In the late 1980's, Kansas City, MO, young men are going missing. One man terrorizes and takes advantage of a marginalized community for his own twisted fantasies.  Robert Berdella drugs and tortures 6 young men, before one finally escapes his house of horrors. When police finally discover the extent of Berdella's crimes, the notes, the photographs, the evidence is unbelievable.  Mick and Tommy explore what drove Robert Berdella, his pathology, his personality, and his crimes.

In April 2022, genetic genealogy solved the 30 year mystery of the I-65 killer, a lesser known but prolific and ruthless murderer. But who was this man, what were his crimes, and is it possible that his death toll is higher than we know? Join Tommy as she regales Mick with the shockingly brazen case of the I-65 Killer. 

To many, it is known as “The Day the 60s Died.”  On May 4, 1970, 4 Kent State University students were shot dead by the Ohio National Guard during a protest against the expanding War in Vietnam.  Mick tells the story of a defining cultural moment and what, if anything, we've learned from these events.  

In Season 1's episodes 2 and 3, Tommy took a two-part look at the infamous Ypsilanti Ripper murders that gripped southwestern Michigan's college towns in terror in the late 1960's. Out of the many murders in the series, one always stood out as not quite fitting into the profile of the series: the death of Jane Mixer. Some 40 years later, Mixer's case took a surprising turn–one that perhaps raises as many questions as it answers, and one that warrants an in-depth revisiting. 

This week we'll be traveling slightly outside of the Midwest for a listener request.  1939, Canon City Colorado, a 23 year-old man is put to death for the murder of a young girl. But the story behind this young man's trial and imprisonment is not what you might expect. The story of how Joe Arridy arrived in his cell, the story of his life and his death is nothing more than a grave injustice.  

 Middle school life in so many ways is timeless--struggles with identity and belonging, relational drama, and extreme emotions. Most of us get to grow up and move on, but for 12 year old Shanda Sharer in 1992 suburban Indiana, all of those issues would culminate in the night of her horrific torture and murder. Join Tommy as she walks Mick through a case much more complex and nuanced than it appears on the surface.

In this short mini-sode, we, Tommy and Mick get honest about the shows hiatus. Most of all, we discuss how excited we are to be back. This Episode does not cover any particular crimes.

Taking a break from some tragedy to chat about one of our favorite non-true crime topics: UFOs!  Mick takes us back to her hometown to chat about a long-standing myth: that Wright-Patt Air Force Base is secretly hiding UFOs and Alien creatures!  Mick and Tommy talk history, conspiracies, and pancakes.  And Mick gets to play debunking killjoy.  Join us for this special edition episode and we'll be back for more traditional true crime next week.

Still on that self-care shit.  But we'll be back next week with all new episodes.  Until then, ring in Spooky Season with one of our favorite throwbacks! On the night of July 3, 1929, a man enters the home of a local business man, mystic, and occult leader, Bennie Evangalista.  He is shocked to see Evangalista, beheaded and surrounded by photos of his deceased infant son.  Upstairs, the bodies of his wife and children are found in their beds. The scene mirrors those of Evangalista's own visions and writings. Investigators are left with little more than a single bloody fingerprint.  Mick shares one of the oldest unsolved mysteries in Detroit history.  Was it a competing cult? An illusive mafia connection?  Or a disillusioned follower's retaliation?  We may never know, as these supposedly haunted grounds stubbornly keep their secrets.

We're taking a week or so off for some much needed self-care.  We take that very seriously around these parts.  So please, enjoy this throwback episode, one of our favorites!  And we'll see you with new stuff soon! On a brisk night in November, 1973, a group of teenagers gather in the woods for a night of acoustic guitar and cuddling around the campfire. As their night goes on, they hear the rustling of branches and approaching footsteps--footsteps that would come to signal a night of horror at the hands of three madmen impersonating police. Listen as Tommy regales Mick with a survivor's tale so bizarre that it defines that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

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?

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. 

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

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.

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.

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*

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.

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

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?