Popcorn Murder Stories

On one October day in 1995 Nicole van den Hurk hopped on her bike to go to work at the Woensel Shopping Centre in Eindhoven, Netherlands. However, Nicole would not arrive to work and her bicycle would be found later that day at the bottom of a river in Dommel. In this episode Emily tells the story of Nicole's murder and the lengths at which her family would go to to solve her case. In this episode Megan tells the story of an emotional support alligator for Keep Philly Weird.

After a TMI intro segment that our editor generously deemed "not too gross," Megan dives even further into the mystery of the Somerton Man - and reveals it may well be solved!? Then, Emily spills some Fishtown, Philly tea about the seemingly willful destruction of a beloved neighborhood hops garden.

Megan lays groundwork for the mystery of the Somerton Man - a fellow whose body was found on an Australian beach in 1948, and whose cause of death and identity eluded authorities for decades. Emily provides an Emmys recap so that she can brag about Philly girl Quinta Brunson's historic wins for 'Abbot Elementary.'

SORRY TIKTOKERS - in this episode, Megan bursts your "Teenage Dirtbag" bubble with the sinister true story that inspired the iconic Wheatus bop. Emily provides an update on Terrill "Ya Fav Trashman" Haigler, who recently announced his campaign for Philadelphia City Council.

In the second and final installment on the 1991 Luby's Massacre, Emily explores the shooter's past and possible motives, as well as the aftermath. For levity (???), Megan talks about Marguerite Walz, Philly's peak white feminist icon who was our first (unpaid) police officer but led a crusade against jazz!

Killeen Texas is a small, military town located outside of Fort Hood. Everyone knew everyone and they all enjoyed Luby's Cafeteria. One day during a pack lunch rust a man by the name of Pierre Hennard crashed his car into the front of Luby's and opened fire. In KPW, Megan pays respects and honor to big boob frog monster in light of her demolishment.

On this weeks episode Megan tells the story of Groene family. In the early hours of May 15, 2005 a man all in black tied up the Groene family, murdered 3 of them and took Shasta and Dylan 8 hours away to Montana. At 8 and 9 years old, the pair only had each other to survive the man in black deep in the Lolo National Forest. In Keeping Philly Weird, Emily talks about the fate of The Roundhouse aka the building that was the Philadelphia Police Department HQ until just recently.

Emily tells the deeply unsettling story of Sarah Boone, who allegedly killed her boyfriend Jorge Torres by ZIPPING HIM UP IN A SUITCASE AND LEAVING HIM IN THERE OVERNIGHT. Then, Megan's got a wholesome story about and general ode to the Philadelphia Free Library.

This week, Emily concludes her telling of David and Catherine Birnie's horrifying Perth, Australia murder spree, including survivor Kate Moir's harrowing escape! Megan's got the scoop on iconic Philadelphia institution Rosa Photo.

Emily begins the story of killer couple David and Catherine Birnie. Megan tells an unbelievable tale about a super-duper hella clean Philadelphia of yore!?

Emily tells about the terrible unsolved murder of father and son Neal and Brendan Abernathy. Megan's got the scoop on wholesome new Philly celeb "Lifeguard Grandma."

After a lot of chitty-chat about ~very cool~ bands and the new 'Elvis' movie, Emily tells the story of Japanese serial killer Sataro Fukiage. Megan congratulates a Philly donut spot for keeping it weird.

Episode 127: A Happy Ending for "Baby Holly" by Popcorn Murder Stories

In a true victory for gender equality, Megan tells the story of Angela Simpson who brutally murdered handicapped man after a 3 day torture session. On the day of her sentencing Angela granted a 12 minute interview with 3TV where she recounted what she did with a deadpan stare and very direct explanations. During Keep Philly Weird Emily talks about a Philly staple and heavily debated phenomenon: groups of ATV and dirt bikes that travel around the city and the police's response to that.

After gabbing A LOT about desserts and how men are trash, Emily talks about the unsolved 1940s murder of Muriel Drinkwater, a young lady of Wales whose family where..... *checks notes*..... big hydration advocates? Megan touts the return of Philly's Italian Market Festival.

After Emily shares a more-exciting-than-usual dispatcher anecdote, Megan tells the story of one of America's most infamous (of our all TOO MANY) mass murders. Then, Emily wonders at a new Philly restaurant no one asked for that's doing too much.

This week Emily tells the story of Terry Knorr, who survived a house of horrors to get justice for her two sisters did not...

Emily picks up where she left off with Edmund Creffield and the Holy Rollers; buckle up, it gets real murder-y real fast! Megan keeps Philly weird, (belated) Mother's Day style.

Emily starts us down a weird and wild road with Edmund Creffield, an inexplicably charismatic prophet who came to prominence in the Pacific Northwest in the early 20th century. Megan keeps it weird with a chaotic list of all the things and places bearing the name "Philadelphia."

Emily recounts the viral video murders of newscaster Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward. Megan spills the tea about Philly's recent Russian flag drama.

Emily tells the tale of 15-year-old Kristy Bamu, whose holiday visit to an older sister ended in tragedy. Megan's got the scoop on Philly's latest appropriately chaotic sports mascot.

In this episode Megan wraps up Gary Heidnik's story by detailing how he got caught, his trial, and conviction. Even more so than part 1, listener discretion is advised.

Megan begins the horrifying tale of infamous Philly kidnapper/murderer Gary Heidnik. Emily tells about a cat named Buddy who's had a VERY ROUGH couple of weeks.

Emily tells the story of chaotic couple Wendy Shobrook and Barry Johnson, whose impromptu wedding ended in tragedy for one of Wendy's exes. Megan celebrates Philly's unique relationship to its once-thriving Automat restaurants.

Megan wraps up her two-part series on serial killer and career shitbag Richard Evanovitz. Emily extols the virtues of Philly's famous Reading Terminal Market.

In part 1 of a 2 part series Megan tells the harrowing story of Kara Chamberlain and her encounter with a man linked to the murder of 3 teenage girls in Spotsylvania, Virginia in 1996 and 1997. Emily gives us an update on Abbott Elementary and the show's key role in bringing back the Scholastic Book Fair.

This week Emily tells the story about the murder of Roberta "Bobbie" Miller and her dog in the home they shared. Was it the ex husband, resentful about something that happened during the messy asset negotiation? Does her weirdly quiet and dodgy son who discovered her body know something? Megan educates everyone about the hobby of garden knifing and talk about the overnight success of Abbott Elementary, a show about an underfunded West Philly school by Philly native Quinta Brunson.

After the girls exchange poltergeist and post office horror stories, Megan tells the story of Sacramentoan serial murderess Dorothea Puente. Emily's got the scoop on some characteristically Philly shoddy street work.

Picking up where she left off last week, Emily explains how convicted killer Margo Freshwater (aka Tonya Myers/Hudkins/McCartor) eluded Tennessee and federal law enforcement for over three decades. Megan spills the tea on some Philly gentrification drama.

Emily takes us on a WILD ride with of Tonya "Sexy Legs" McCartor - a kindly middle-aged wife and mom who in 2002 was accused of actually being Margo Freshwater, a spritely young spree-killer convicted of murder in 1969 and on the lam since 1970. Megan provides an update on PA's own escapees (CDC test monkeys), and highlights characteristic Philly cool of city ex-pat Tori Yorgey.

After Megan laments a twice-cancelled Last Podcast On The Left live show, and Emily talks about serial poisoner Tillie Klimek. Then Megan has the scoop on a semi-truck that MONKEYED AROUND and found out, causing a wild crash in south central PA.

The girls extol the trials and tribulations of (cat) parenthood, and then Emily tells the story of South Korea's Frog Boys - a gang of kids who disappeared from their small mountainside town after going salamander-hunting on a day off from school. Megan touts Philly's dubious bedbug accomplishments.

After commiserating over post-holiday COVID test woes, Emily and Megan talk about the tragic murders of young Baltimore siblings Davon and Da'Neria Thomas. Megan lightens the mood with the intel on iconic 1974 novel 'Oreo' and its Philly-born author Fran Ross.

After a brief discussion of their respective Christmas cookie traditions, Emily "helps" Megan tell the story of the Christmas Eve Covina Massacre. Then, Emily's got the scoop on a #iconic tweet by Philly's own Temple University, and a fun fact about a Philly-born Christmas carol.

In the late 90s, Futoshi Matsunaga convinced his lover, Junko Ogata, and most of her family members to move into his small apartment. He then systematically murdered each of them with Junko's help, as well as a father and daughter kept prisoner, all without ever getting his hands dirty. Emily breaks down this story which, translated to English, is officially called "The Kitakyūshū Serial Murder Incident". Megan tells the story of a woman's take out wings from Old School Pizza and the extra delicacy she got along with it.

Emily offers an EDUCASCH-ED take on the infamous Lindbergh baby kidnapping. PLUS - if you need to find a bathroom in Philly, there's an app for that! Meghan's got the scoop.

Emily talks about America's last state-sanctioned public execution, and the Kentucky murder it served as punishment for. Then, Megan's got the scoop on a new, instantly iconic Philly meme page.

After an enlightening theological discussion, Megan continues the story of Lakeland Teen Challenge through the lens of TikToker Sela Freuler (@mzrainbowbrite) - who was 15 when they were admitted to Lakeland Girls Academy for a year and a half. Emily explains how tripping over some litter on a Philly street was the inspiration for a *SUSPISH* app. >>>>>>> Since recording this episode, Megan and Emily have learned that the Polk County Sheriff's Department closed their investigation into Lakeland's involvement in Noami Wood's death. No one was charged, despite the DCF's report citing medical neglect and abuse. A civil wrongful death suit is still pending, which will hopefully result in some semblance of justice for Naomi.

After expounding on a hectic concert photography experience and listening to Emily yawn a lot, Megan begins the story of Naomi Wood - a 17-year-old resident of Florida's Lakeland Girls Academy after her complaints of stomach pains were essentially ignored for weeks, revealing a history of abuses at the reform school. Then, Emily's got the scoop on a Satanic group making waves in the Philly suburbs.

In PMS's ~100th EPISODE~ Emily tells the story of LA's mid-century Trick-or-Treat Murder. Megan highlights some of Fishtown Philly's weirdest eateries.

After a resounding horror movie recommendation, Emily tells the ~Sp0okY HaLl0wEen~ murder story of a struggling Ohio mom whose body was mistaken for a Halloween decoration. Megan keeps it weird with the latest on Ya Fav Trashman.

Megan was finally freed from story jail and got Emily all worked up for a different reason about the murder of indigenous activist Anna Mae Aquash. Anna, a force of nature, was discovered frozen in late February 1976, after being executed in the corner of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Everyone that was in Anna's life, and not so in her life (*cough*the FBI*cough*)started pointing fingers. So who killed Anna? Emily tells us about the first space sports bet and teaches us how to catch a croc with a garbage can for Keep Philly Weird!

Emily talks about the decades-long mystery of Canadian murder victim Septic Tank Sam. Megan proudly provides a rundown of Philly's coolest cemeteries.

After getting a tip from the 911 Operator gig, Emily follows up on a local murder that occurred in the early 90s. Teen Eddie Polec was beaten to death by kids from a rival high school. At the end of the case Philadelphia had to reconcile with the repercussions of putting Police money elsewhere and rewrite the 911 operator handbook. Keeping it weird, Megan breaks the news to Emily about the demise of our favorite Halloween haunted house.

Emily tells the tale of Tonda Lynn Ansley - just one of several defendants who've utilized "the 'Matrix' defense" in court. Megan follows it up with a historic Keep Philly Weird gem about the eccentric Major General Smedley D. Butler.

Emily tells the tragic story of beloved Austinite Esme Barrera's murder, and then Megan discusses Philly's iconic reaction to its recent unprecedented flooding.

After the girls commiserate about their AC and Philly infrastructure woes, Emily tells the tale of prolific Indian serial killer(s) "The Stoneman." Megan then provides an update on the punk rock show held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.

Emily shares the twisty, turny story of real-life changeling (???) Pauline Picard. Then, Megan's got the scoop on a drama-filled PHL to Florida flight.

After Emily's firsthand account of an unreal eight-care pileup, she tells the story of a Tinder match gone DEADLY wrong. Megan keeps it weird with a roundup of Philly's "worst of" 2021.

Megan regales Emily with the tale of Karla Faye Tucker, a Texas woman who committed a crime as unspeakable as her hair was fabulous. Then, Emily spills tea about a Philly sports-inspired YouTuber who turned out to be a REAL CREEP.

In this three-part series, Megan tells the story of Philadelphia's infamous MOVE bombing: the events leading up to the May 13, 1985 police detonation of a two-pound makeshift bomb over 6221 Osage Avenue in West Philly; the ensuing death and destruction; and the ongoing aftermath. This final installment brings us up to the present day, where unfortunately victims of the MOVE bombing have still not seen justice. On a lighter note, Emily ends the episode with an update on Philly's hottest new concert venue...........FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING!?