SISPICION

Better than late than never! This week, we tell the harrowing tales of Mauro Prosperi and Juliane Koepcke. In 1994, Mauro Prosperi set forth to run the 'Marathon des Sables', a six day 155 mile race through the Sahara Desert. On Christmas Eve 1971, Juliane Koepcke was just 17 years old she departed Lima, Peru on a plane with her mother to meet her father in a small town. Both would have to fight for survival in gruesome ways and beat the odds to see better days. Check out their stories anywhere you find podcasts on SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: 261 Fearless at 261fearless.org. For years, the number 261 has stood for women’s ability to break barriers in running—it’s the bib number Kathrine Switzer wore when she became the first registered woman to run the Boston Marathon, in 1967. More than five decades later, Switzer serves as founder and board chair for this organization that connects female runners around the globe. Programs include non-competitive running events; a coaching certification that focuses on teaching healthy, sustainable running habits to women; and local clubs that meet for runs, of which there are now 23 and counting, in locations from Albania to Kansas City to Zambia. Research Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30046426 https://www.offgridweb.com/survival/alone-in-the-sahara-the-survival-story-of-mauro-prosperi/ https://historydaily.org/the-double-survival-miracle-of-juliane-koepcke

We have two sea survival stories for this episode! Jose Salvador Alvarenga is the only person to survive out at sea for over 438 days. Harrison Okene is the only person to have survived any time on the bottom of the sea floor. Both of these men showed incredible courage and survival skills that most of us will never have to test. This also starts our switch to episodes focusing on survival stories, these will consist of tales of people surviving in the wilderness to those surviving attacks from others and everything in between. Please let us know on any of our social media platforms how you feel about this switch as we go and if you know of any survivor stories let us know! Stay SISPICIOUS! Organization Spotlight: Oceana, dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale. Oceana seeks to make our oceans more biodiverse and abundant by winning policy victories in the countries that govern much of the world's marine life. Founded in 2001, Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Their offices around the world work together to win strategic, directed campaigns that achieve measurable outcomes that will help make our oceans more bio diverse and abundant. For more information visit their website here. Research Sources: https://youtu.be/cykdSb7xqI4 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/12/nigeria-sailor-survive-air-pocket https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/10115919/Nigerian-cook-tells-how-he-survived-for-three-days-trapped-under-sunken-ship.html https://allthatsinteresting.com/jose-alvarenga https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/07/fisherman-lost-at-sea-436-days-book-extract

Would you rather be lost at sea or trapped on a frozen mountain? Most people would say neither but these three men survived those situations through incredible feats of survival. If you've ever been terrified about being alone at sea surrounded by sharks or breaking your leg on a mountain 20,000 ft in the air with hypothermia then you will love this episode. Listen to the amazing survival stories of Steve Callahan, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on this weeks episode of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: World Wildlife Fund, their mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Find out more about how you can support the World Wildlife Fund at their website worldwildlife.org. Research Sources: https://blog.theclymb.com/passions/history-2/five-of-the-greatest-wilderness-survival-stories-in-history/ https://www.sailingeurope.com/blog/survival-at-sea-the-thrilling-story-of-steve-callahan https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/23/adrift-in-atlantic-76-days https://vault.si.com/vault/2004/01/19/back-to-the-brink-almost-20-years-after-their-near-death-experience-climbers-joe-simpson-and-simon-yates-returned-to-the-peruvian-andes-with-an-academy-award-winning-director-to-film-the-stunning-new-documentary-touching-the-void

Researching and putting together a crime story for this week was the last thing on our minds. In this episode, we are giving a couple of updates on two of our previous stories, Jassy Correia (episode 10 season 1) and BFF Fonies (episode 6 season 1). As well as give some podcast and organization recommendations for those who are looking to support the Black Lives Matter protests. We hope you will check out some of our recommendations, and if you have any that we missed, please let us know on any of our social media sites. Stay SISPICIOUS! Podcast Recommendations: Black Lives Matter "What Matters", "Dear Governor" from iHeartRadio, "In Black America" from KUT productions, "Ear Hustle" from Radiotopia GQ Article featuring organizations and resources: www.gq.com/gallery/ways-to-support-black-lives-matter Black Lives Matter website: blacklivesmatter.com

Your favorite sisters are back for a new season in quarantine! We might be apart but it doesn't mean our hilarious antics are far away. This week we tackle a story close to home, The Great Boston Molasses Flood. Who knew that the delicious ingredient in a cookie could cause death and destruction? So hide yourself in your closet away from the family or tell the roommates to be quiet and settle in for a dose of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: Office for Victims of Crime, administers the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), which is financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders, not from tax dollars. Federal revenues deposited into the Fund also come from gifts, donations, and bequests by private parties. OVC channels funding for victim compensation and assistance throughout the United States, raises awareness about victims’ issues, promotes compliance with victims’ rights laws, and provides training and technical assistance and publications and products to victim assistance professionals. Research Sources: https://www.history.com/news/the-great-molasses-flood-of-1919 https://www.history.com/news/great-molasses-flood-science https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/great-boston-molasses-flood-1919-killed-21-after-2-million-n958326

Yes, you read the title correctly. In 2012, 9,000 barrels of maple syrup went missing/were stolen in Quebec. Who would steal maple syrup, why, and most importantly how? Who knew maple syrup was such a big commodity in Canada! Check out the weird story here with our SPECIAL GUEST! If you're looking for more information, 'Dirty Money' episode 5 season 1 is available on Netflix. Research Sources: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/quebec/articles/the-unusual-story-behind-the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist/ https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/12/maple-syrup-heist https://time.com/4760432/maple-syrup-heist-prison-fine/

Disney World is known as "The Happiest Place on Earth," but is there a sinister world of crime hiding behind Cinderella's castle? Come find out as Morgan and Jessica discuss this topic with a special guest!

Sherri Rasmussen was the definition of brains and beauty. Described as a “tall Scandinavian beauty,” at the age of just 27, she was the director of nursing at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Three months after her wedding Sherri was murdered in her home. Detectives believed it was a burglary gone wrong and the case went cold. Twenty years later a detective in the cold case unit would make a shocking discovery that lead to justice for Sherri. Find out more on this weeks episode of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: Loved Ones Victims Services (LOVS) is dedicated to meeting the emotional and physical needs of family members and friends who have lost loved ones, often times to violence. Their primary objective is to provide individual family and group counseling for adults, teens and children. For more information visit their website at www.lovs.org. If you're interested in learning more about this case check out the book, The Lazarus Files: A Cold Case Investigation by Matthew McGough Research Sources: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/07/lapd-lazurus-murder-mystery-killer https://www.insideedition.com/the-case-of-the-murdered-newlywed-and-the-cop-who-nearly-got-away-with-it-inside-the-lazarus-files https://people.com/crime/lazarus-files-book-investigation-los-angeles-cop-killed-ex-boyfriend-newlywed/

In 2012, the world was supposedly going to end according to the Mayan calendar, in a way the world of Manti Te’o did get severely disrupted. His beloved maternal grandmother Annette passed away and in the same couple of hours so did his girlfriend. His girlfriend was a 22 year old Stanford University student named Lennay Kekua. What the world and Manti would find out was that Lennay Kekua was not what she seemed. Decide for yourself if Manti was conned or not on this episode of SISPICION! Special guest included. Research Sources: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/06/manti-teo-girlfriend-nfl-draft https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-manti-teo-girlfriend-hoax-story/story?id=18268647 https://deadspin.com/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-an-5976517

Going to a store to shop should be a safe and fun activity. On June 2, 2007, 18 year old Kelsey Smith, a recent high school graduate, went to Target in her hometown in Kansas to buy a six month anniversary gift for her boyfriend. Kelsey was last seen on surveillance cameras being pushed into her car by a man who had stalked her throughout the store. A woman who's future was just starting was savagely murdered all because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Check out the story of Kelsey Smith on this week's episode of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: The Kelsey Smith Foundation https://kelseysarmy.org/ was made to honor and perpetuate the life of Kelsey Smith by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults... Programs such as safety awareness seminars which The Kelsey Smith Foundation, Inc. provides a Safety Awareness Seminar (SAS) to any interested group, school, college, or business. The SAS provides cutting edge, real world information that can be implemented to enhance personal safety for youth, young adults and adults. The SAS is constantly updated with the newest information and research providing the latest in safety and awareness techniques that work in your daily life. Research Sources: https://www.truecasefiles.com/2019/08/the-abduction-murder-of-kelsey-smith.html https://patch.com/michigan/plymouth-mi/bp--the-kelsey-smith-story-a-story-of-heartache-hope https://www.kcur.org/post/police-arrest-suspect-kelsey-smith-murder-case#stream/0

On March 18th, 1990, the single largest property theft in the world occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA. How were two men dressed as police officers able to steal over $500 million dollars worth of art? Where did these pieces go? Who were the thieves? Find out all this and more on the second crime adjacent episode of SISPICION. PS. CHECK OUT THE SPECIAL GUEST! (Hint: he created our theme music and is the voice in the background when we ask him questions) Research Sources: https://www.gardnermuseum.org/about/theft-story#chapter1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum_theft#CITEREFMcShane2006

LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED, deals with child sex abuse. Could you join a cult? Would you even know if you were in one? If you realized you were what would make you leave? This week we tackle an extremely difficult case, the Children of God. What started as a community of teenage hippies trying to convert others to Jesus would become a sex-fueled cult that would traumatize thousands of children and young adults for years. Learn more about this infamous cult on this weeks episode of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: Cult Escape, is an ever growing resource that aims to promote awareness of the struggles and inspires courage and hope for anyone who seeks freedom from religious control . For more information on this organization check out their website at cult-escape.com. Research Sources: Special thanks to the Cults Podcast from Parcast- https://www.parcast.com/cults https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/11/children-of-god-church-sex-cult-texas-mexico-fbi https://timeline.com/children-of-god-5245a45f6a2a https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44613932 http://www.eaec.org/cults/cog.htm

SISPICION is getting a new format! In order to get listeners bigger and better researched cases we will be switching to bi-weekly. Every other week we will be bringing you the true crime cases you want and don't worry in between we will post stories that we are call crime adjacent. These crime adjacent stories will be anything from crime documentaries we've watched, books we've read, or spooky stories. We hope you enjoy these two urban legends this week and get prepared for a wild case next Wednesday! Research Sources: "The Russian Sleep Experiment" by David Emery from LiveAboutDotCom https://www.liveabout.com/the-russian-sleep-experiment-3299532 "The Killer in the Backseat" by David Emery, as told by reader Emily Dunbar https://www.liveabout.com/killer-in-the-backseat-3299489

On July 4, 2005, George Allen Smith IV was on his honeymoon with his wife Jennifer of 10 days when he disappeared after a night of partying. Did he fall off the balcony? Was he pushed? Where was Jennifer? The young men who were partying with the newlyweds would be under suspicion and the timeline of their whereabouts would be scrutinized. Find out what happened to George on this weeks episode of SISPICION! Organization Spotlight: International Cruise Victims Association represents victims of crime on cruise ships, their families and friends, and individuals concerned about the problems of victimization and disappearances on cruise ships. For more information visit their website www.internationalcruisevictims.org. Research Sources: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2006/04/george-jennifer-smith-royal-caribbean-cruise-honeymoon https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/New-details-in-Greenwich-man-s-2005-cruise-ship-2444582.php https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-closes-probe-into-vanished-cruise-ship-honeymooner/ https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/nyregion/bride-recounts-disappearance-of-husband-during-cruise.html Interested in this type of story? Check out the article below: https://people.com/crime/cruise-ship-deaths-and-disappearances-a-honeymooner-vanishes-overboard-and-other-mysteries/

On May 5, 1993 three eight year old boys, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, were playing their neighborhood when they never returned home. The next day their naked bodies would be found in a place called Robin Hood Hills. A community rattled by an atrocious crime would look furiously for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The investigation, trial, and conviction of Jessie Misskelley Jr., Jason Baldwin, and Damien Echols, would continue to be debated today, when three teenage boys would become the West Memphis Three. Welcome to season two of Sispicion! Organization Spotlight: The Innocence Project, founded in 1992 by Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck at Cardozo School of Law, exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. For more information visit their website at www.innocenceproject.org. Research Sources: "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" Directors: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky "West of Memphis" Directed by Amy J. Berg https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/the-west-memphis-three-case-an-evolving-story-of-doubt-misinformation https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/then-now-the-west-memphis-three https://the-line-up.com/west-memphis-three-where-are-they-now

What would you do if someone close to you was murdered? Sheila Gibbons was a junior psychology major at Southern Methodist University when her best friend and roommate Angela Samota was found raped and murdered in her bedroom. On October 12, 1984, Angela and two friends had gone out to the state fair what should have been a fun weekend of activities would turn into a 20 year nightmare. If Angela was ever going to receive justice, Sheila would be the one to make sure it happened. PS. Look for a special guest on this episode! Organization Spotlight: Investigating Innocence, a not-for-profit organization that provides investigative support to indigent inmates, lawyers and Innocence Projects throughout the United States who seek to prove post-conviction claims of actual innocence. For more information visit investigatinginnocence.org. Resources: https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-44470377 https://www.insideedition.com/gallery/cold-cases-have-seen-breaks-after-years-unanswered-questions-42842/murder-angela-samota-612 https://www.wattpad.com/753948303-real-crime-stories-the-murder-of-angela-samota

On January 23, 1959, nine students from the Ural Polytechnic Institute set off on an adventure trekking through the Ural Mountains with an instructor. Less than a month later, the bodies of the nine students would be found in the mountain with their tent cut open. What happened to make these experienced hikers cut their tent and flee into the dark and snowy night of the Ural Mountains would remain a mystery for decades. To this day no one knows what went wrong on this mountain that night......BUT we're going to speculate on this weeks episode. Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any mispronunciations. The mountaineers: Igor Dyatlov, Yuri Dorohenko, Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Dubinina, Semyon Aleksandrovich Zolotaryov, ( Yuri) Georgiy Krivonischenko, Rustem Slobodin, Alexander Kolevatov, Nicolas Thibeaux-Brignolle, Zinaida Kolmogorova, Yuri Yudin Research Sources: If you want to go down a rabbit hole check out this website https://dyatlovpass.com/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2019/02/01/mystery-at-dyatlov-pass/#b97d8252741c https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/europe/dyatlov-pass-incident-scli-intl/index.html

A film student, a Wall Street banker, a producer, and a potential murderer. How did Clark Rockefeller become these things? Who is the real Clark Rockefeller? What happened to cause his downfall and how could a man from a small German town make his way into the elite circles of California and New York City? Find out all this and more on this weeks episode. PS. SPECIAL GUEST ALERT! Organization Spotlight: Victims of Crime, if you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud look for resources at victims of crime.org. Research Sources: https://allthatsinteresting.com/clark-rockefeller-christian-gerhartsreiter https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2009/01/fake_rockefeller200901

On October 4th, 2009, the sleepy town of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire was rocked away by a senseless murder and assault of a mother and daughter. When a teenage boy goes to the police saying his friends were the perpetrators, the case became even more sensational. Why did four eighteen year olds from a small town in New Hampshire attack Kimberly and Jaimie Cates? Join us for another listener request episode here or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Organization Spotlight: The Kimberly Cates Memorial Scholarship Fund Research Sources: https://www.wmur.com/article/mont-vernon-murder-case-background/5165120?fbclid=IwAR21zroq2GAVPvbKQXH3Zx642GMddUi5JaSpoPHYTczWD5lW2XYtujc7Pcg https://www.wmur.com/article/nearly-5-years-later-cates-family-reflects-on-how-far-they-ve-come/5193094 http://archive.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/03/26/at_her_attackers_sentencing_12_year_old_victim_looks_on/ http://www.kimcatesfund.org/index.htm https://boston.cbslocal.com/tag/jaimie-cates/

When Alex Cooper was 15 she told her parents that she was gay. What happened next would bring Alex to her limits physically, mentally, and spiritually. For more information read Alex's memoir, "Saving Alex: When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began," with Joanna Brooks. This weeks episode deals with the ever present practice of conversion therapy as well as an organization that goes above and beyond to help LGBTQ teens and young adults. The Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth. If you or someone you know needs hep visit their website at thetrevorproject.org or call 1-866-488-7386. Research Sources: Lifetime Movie, "Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story" https://www.distractify.com/p/the-alex-cooper-story-is-it-true http://www.newnownext.com/trapped-the-alex-cooper-story-interview/09/2019/

Michele MacNeill was a mother of eight children, married to a respected doctor, and just celebrated her 50th birthday. Everyone was stunned when she was found laying unconscious in her bathtub weeks after having a face lift. Was her death an accident or something more sinister? What happened to this beautiful mother and why were her eldest daughters convinced that their father had something to do with it? Find this out and more on part two of episode ten. Organization Spotlight: National Domestic Violence Hotline if you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Violence call 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website at thehotline.org to chat with an advocate. Research Sources: Special Thanks to Jon Meyersohn at ABCNews https://abcnews.go.com/US/utah-doctors-life-lies-unravels-children-convinced-murdered/story?id=63609211 https://abcnews.go.com/US/days-death-utah-doctor-killed-wife-daughter-opens/story?id=46730494 https://abcnews.go.com/2020/utah-doctors-wife-victim-foul-play/story?id=12972591

What story boosted your passion for investigating true crime? This week, SISPICION explores the stories that first got us hooked on investigation. Jessica starts this two part theme with the horrifically tragic story of Caylee Anthony. Tune in next week for Morgan's story and the organization spotlight. Stay sispicious! Sources: Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery on Hulu https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/casey-anthony-trial-fast-facts/index.html

The community of Boston fights for those who call it home. What happened when two young, vibrant and driven young women are brutally murdered?

An astronaut in diapers? A woman threatening her ex's new wife via Craigslist? Twist and turns and wine? Morgan and Jessica reunion episode? All of this and more on this weeks new episode of SISPICION.

On June 14, 2015, neighbors in a suburb of Missouri were surprised to see Facebook posts from a woman named Dee Dee that mentioned her and her ill daughter Gypsy's death. When police showed up at the pink home built by Habitat for Humanity, no one was prepared for what they found. Check out this week's stunning case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard featuring a special guest!

On May 6, 2013, three women escaped from a home in Cleveland after being held captive for over a decade.

Our story today centers around friends who commit the ultimate betrayal: murder. Tune in for the story of Tiffany Rowell, Rachel Koloroutis, Marcus Precella, and Adelbert Sanchez and the story of Cynthia Hoffman. PS look out for our special guest!

Johnny Gosch was 12 years old on September 5, 1982 when he started off on his normal paper route. He would never return. Today we discuss Johnny's disappearance and the theory of what happened to him that will take you down a rabbit hole.

What happens when someone you loved turns violent? This weeks episode of SISPICION focuses on three survivor stories with very different endings. Check out our website sispicion.com and our Facebook at sispicion for pictures and more information on these cases.

Susan Walters and Jayme Closs are two different women who have defied the odds and survived horrific attacks. Be prepared but do not live in fear.

Jan Pietrzak and Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak were married for only 67 days before they were found brutally murdered in their home. Jan was a sergeant in the marine corps and Quiana was an infant care counselor, described as an extremely loving couple who were looking forward to their future together. Find out what happened on this weeks episode of SISPICION.

Etan Patz went missing in 1979 while walking the two blocks from his Manhattan home to his bus stop. His face would become the first missing child featured on a milk cartoon and led to the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. SISPICION is a true crime podcast featuring two sisters who focus on the victims and survivors.