Podcast appearances and mentions of Mel Ignatow

Dubbla fall av upprörande rättegångsprocesser i veckans avsnitt. Karin berättar om Brenda Sue Schaefer som försvann efter att ha gjort slut med sitt ex Mel Ignatow, en man som senare erkände att han dödat henne men trots det inte kunde dömas för mordet.Anna berättar om 15-åriga Martha Moxley som hittades mördad i sin familjs trädgård i oktober 1975. Rättegångsprocessen pågick fram till bara några år sen och huvudmisstänkte Michael Skakel har fängslats och släppts många gånger om

On September 24, 1988, Brenda Sue Schaefer was sexually tortured and murdered in Louisville, Kentucky. Brenda's boyfriend Mel Ignatow was tried for the crime. Despite the testimony of his ex-girlfriend Mary Ann Shore, who led police to the spot where Brenda Sue's body was buried, jurors found Ignatow not guilty for lack of evidence. However, six months later new incriminating evidence — Brenda's jewelry and photos from the night of her murder — were discovered in Ignatow's former home. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 7/15/2002. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stick with us until the end with this one because karma is a glass coffee table. This week we're telling you about Mel Ignatow and the horrific murder of Brenda Sue Schaefer. Produced by Jacob Hollabaugh Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, check out our website for merch, and follow us on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube

This is a solo episode where I dive into True Crime about Louisville, Kentucky. I will be sharing 4 of the most heinous murders to happen in the city. Ranging from the Trinity Murders, Standard Gravure Shooting, Mel Ignatow, and the Old National Bank Shooting. If you are from here or not from here, you don't want to miss this episode because I break down all the cases with the before and after. This was a lot of fun researching and finding out information about these cases. Rest in peace to all the victims. 

Profiles the details of the murder and torture of Brenda Sue Schaefer by Mel Ignatow. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/valerie-harvey/message

Mel Ignatow was a liar, a fiend, and someone who took advantage of Brenda Sue Schaefer. And, when she tried to leave him, he did unspeakable acts. However, he would be found not guilty of her murder. After the trial, he confessed. Welcome to the world of double jeopardy. Send your spooky stories to mikeohhello@gmail.com!  thatchapter@night.co for business inquiries

Brenda Schaefer, a beautiful 36 year old from Louisville Kentucky, went missing in September of 1988. Her car was found abandoned and vandalized early on a Sunday morning, but Brenda was nowhere to be found. Mel Ignatow, Brenda's one-time fiancé, was an immediate suspect, but there was no direct evidence implicating him and no body. In part two of this two-part episode, we discuss Mel's trial and the aftermath.  Sources: Double Jeopardy, book by Bob Hill from 1995Dark Heart, Iron Hand - Getting Away With Murder, MSNBC 2011https://www.wave3.com/story/8932145/ignatows-son-reacts-to-his-fathers-death/

Brenda Schaefer, a beautiful 36 year old from Louisville Kentucky, went missing in September of 1988. Her car was found abandoned and vandalized early on a Sunday morning, but Brenda was nowhere to be found. Mel Ignatow, Brenda's one-time fiancé, was an immediate suspect, but there was no direct evidence implicating him and no body. In part one of this two-part episode, we discuss Brenda's background, Brenda and Mel's relationship, and the investigation into her disappearance.  Sources: Double Jeopardy, book by Bob Hill from 1995Dark Heart, Iron Hand - Getting Away With Murder, MSNBC 2011https://www.wave3.com/story/8932145/ignatows-son-reacts-to-his-fathers-death/

Presented by 3CHI. On this week's Twisted History, Large, Vibbs, Anne, and Jack discuss The Double Jeopardy case of Mel Ignatow, Issei Sagawa, Emmet Till, Jim Crow laws, The Fugitive, and of course, actual Jeopardy!You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/twistedhistory

Brenda Sue Schaefer and Mel Ignatow on a blind date. She thought she was finally happy, Mel seemed well off and seemed to really listen to her. When he proposed on Valentines day it was a no brainer. However, shortly after that Mel showed his true colors. He was abusive and se*ually pushy towards Brenda. When she planned to leave I'm, he caught wind and put a stop to it.   - https://linktr.ee/bitchpackmedia - Content: 00:00 - Intro 2:33 - Start of Case 05:42 - Met Mel Ignatow 07:07 - Downhill 09:48 - Murder 13:49 - Brenda Missing 16:55 - Voluntary Grand Jury and trial 25:28 - Perjury Charges 30:46 - Free Man 34:00 - Death 35:35 - Wrap Up - Intro by the amazing Rux Ton - Logo by Sloane of The Sophisticated Crayon - SOURCES: http://juryverdicts.net/PenceReport.pdf    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/double-jeopardy/    https://www.wave3.com/story/8932145/ignatows-son-reacts-to-his-fathers-death/    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98157251/ignatow-timeline/    https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ky-supreme-court/1338247.html     https://murderpedia.org/male.I/i/ignatow-mel.htm     https://allthatsinteresting.com/mel-ignatow    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Ignatow 

Join the hosts as they cover the case of Mel Ignatow. Make sure to listen til the end because the case update portion has a major twist!Sources:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Ignatowhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/mel-ignatowhttps://www.wlky.com/article/archives-melvin-ignatow-arrest/38749478#Music/SFX:https://www.epidemicsound.com/Wrote by: Ryan SchaapResearched By: Ryan SchaapVoiced By: Ryan Schaap and Keith SchaapIntro By: Erienne Smith and William SmithEdited By: Ryan SchaapCall Us When You're Dead is part of A Single Rose Production's LLCSupport the show

We've covered many cases where prosecutors make a so-called “deal with the devil” – giving the accomplice to a crime a lighter charge in exchange for information against a “bigger fish.”  Even though Mel Ignatow admitted to the sexual torture and murder of Brenda Schaefer, he never served a day in prison for it. This episode is about a case of getting away with murder and how Mel Ignatow became “the most hated man in Louisville.”  

This week we look at the infamous case of Mel Ignatow, whose girlfriend, Brenda Schaefer, went missing. Of course the investigation centered on Mel. Did he do it? Of course he did! But this case shows us that one, our rights in the Constitution really do mean something, and two, it really is possible to get away with murder.  Hosted by Chris and Jeff 1.     Topics0:00:23    Welcome/Intro0:00:34    Disclaimer0:01:02    There's Been a Murder0:53:49    Contact/Rate/Subscribe2.     Additional ResourcesMel and BrendaMary Ann ShoreDouble Jeopardy: Obsession, Murder, and Justice Denied, by Bob Hill 3.     Merchandise/Support the Showhttps://www.subpartalks.com/support/https://www.subpartalks.com/p/store/ 4.     Contact Us/Follow Us/Rate/Subscribe New episodes every week! Listen, rate, follow, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Follow us: Website:  https://www.subpartalks.com - for anything related to the showTwitter:  @subpartalksFacebook:  subpartalks5.     CreditsSubpar Talks Theme Music: Get Airy! by Sergei Chetvertnykh: SergeQuadrado | PixabaySubpar Talks transition music: Jingle Clean Guitar Funky and Rock Style by Shiden Beats Music: ShidenBeatsMusic | PixabaySupport the show

Brenda Sue Schaefer is a genuinely nice person who is beset by Mel Ignatow, a pushy salesman and all around turd.

Ever hear of "Double Jeopardy?  This week, we continue the tragic tale of Brenda Schaefer who was killed by her fiancé, Mel Ignatow.  After Mel's trial, he was found not guilty!  Listen to part two and how karma ended up the winner in this case.Join in on the conversation by friending us on Facebook "Sipping with Snapped a true crime podcast" or follow us on Instagram @sippingwithsnapped or twitter @sippingsnapped or send us an email sippingwithsnapped@gmail.com visit our new website www.sippingwithsnapped.comOur music is preformed by Caleb Koch!  You can find him on Instagram by clicking: creepyukelThe Clambake IncidentThe Clambake Incident your Tertiary sports and slice of life living Comedy PodcastListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

When pulling up the carpets in your new dream home, you'll probably be hoping to find beautiful shiny hardwood floors. What you won't be hoping to find, however, is the former homeowner's secret stash spot of camera rolls.  Especially when the said former homeowner was a sexual sadist who'd just been acquitted of murdering his girlfriend.  As for what was on those camera rolls... well, you'll just have to press play to find out... Become a patron: Patreon Order a copy of the book here (US & Canada): Order on Wellesley Books Order on Amazon.com Order a copy of the book here (UK, Ireland, Europe, NZ, Aus): Order on Amazon.co.uk Order on Foyles Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Visit our website: Website Contact us: Contact

The Watkin's family moved into their new home and their first project was ripping out the old, brown, ugly carpet. Rip. Rip. Wait, what is that? They found a hole in the ground. Strange. Inside that hole is a little treasure. Jewelry and a roll of undeveloped film. They had it developed and it showed 112 pictures. A series of photo sequences leading up to the gruesome torture and murder of a young woman. They called the FBI. The FBI could do nothing. They knew the killer but he was untouchable. He was protected by law. Why? Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brenda Sue Schaefer was described as a kind, pretty, and smart young woman. Her biggest flaw was falling in love with the wrong men. She would meet one such man, Melvin Ignatow, on a blind date set by her best friend. And when he gave her the attention she craved, she was hooked. But things would begin to crumble when Mel became controlling and abusive. Eventually, Brenda broke up with Mel. And then, on September 23, 1988, in Louisville, Kentucky, Brenda Sue Schaefer disappeared. And while everyone—and I mean everyone—knew who killed Brenda, no one would ever be convicted for her murder. This is the story of Melvin Ignatow. Double Jeopardy.Join our Facebook Group: Kentucky Fried Cousins (Cause we're all family here!)For additional show notes, go to: kentuckyfriedhomicide.comRead Kris Calvert's Books Today for Free If you're a Kentucky Fried Homicide subscriber, you can start Kris Calvert's books for free.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kyfriedhomicide)

In this episode, we will be discussing the heartbreaking case of Brenda Sue Schaeffer, who was murdered in 1988 by her ex-fiance and his partner. Brenda's family would never see justice for this crime because with a lack of evidence, Mel Ignatow was found innocent, only for him to confess to her brutal killing 11 months later - knowing he could not be charged due to the law of double jeopardy. Thank you for joining me on Weird Renown!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weirdrenownWeird Renown Theme - Black Tar by Karl Casey at White Bat AudioRemixed by Zach Spencer (Arcade) Music Credit: Ominous Background music "Silent Shadows" composed by Peder B. Helland. **Visit my website for more content from mehttp://heathershouse.life​​​​​​**Visit the Weird Renown merch shop! https://heather-shouse-weird-renown.creator-spring.com/?**Visit Zoo Fam Podcast, which I co-host with my friend Ben.http://zoofamproductions.com​​​​​SOURCES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Ignatowhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-e-5JEbf4https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17915920/the-courier-journal/https://web.archive.org/web/20050515031028/http://www.kypost.com/opinion/weath093097.htmlhttps://thecinemaholic.com/how-did-mary-ann-shore-die/Support the show (https://paypal.me/hshouse2?locale.x=en_US)

When Brenda Shaeffer went missing, her family believed her ex-fiance was involved. The investigation went from Kentucky to Florida to Hong Kong but eventually landed back where the family suspected. But the evidence they needed would show up too late.  Want more true crime content? Subscribe to Crimelines on YouTube http://youtube.com/c/crimelinestruecrime Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gARSaU0d2ebN8bGnrcPQH5BwxiRJK4rqAN7SRNCpphM/edit?usp=sharing Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujnl-TC5JIR1jvCqSyhWqOeuLnbOWQgO/view?usp=sharing Sponsors: Betterhelp.com/crimelines June's Journey -- download the app FREE today!   Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/crimelines https://www.basementfortproductions.com/support Licensing: Theme music by Scott Buckley https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/ Cover Art by Lars Hacking from Rusty Hinges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We don’t want to say too much in case you’ve never heard the story of Mel Ignatow, Brenda Sue Schaefer, and Mary Ann Shore, but just trust us—this Louisville, Kentucky murder is a wild ride. Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Ignatow https://allthatsinteresting.com/mel-ignatow https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/mel-ignatow-41674.php https://murderpedia.org/male.I/i/ignatow-mel-photos.htm Support our sponsors! OK Drugs: CBD gummies help you find clarity in crazy! Use the code WITCHMAGIC to get 10% off your order at okdrugs.co. (Not .com!) Rolling Oven Pizza: With locations in Lexington and Versailles, KY, it’s the best pizza Kentucky has to offer! www.rollingoven.com. (If you’re not local to Kentucky, please support your favorite locally owned restaurants however you can!) Check out @witchesmagicmurdermystery on Instagram! Email your personal or local stories related to witches, magic, murder, or mystery to witchesmagicmurdermystery@gmail.com. Get to know us better: Kara: @atoakandmain Megan: @megan_whitmer or www.meganwhitmer.com Theme music: Chloe’s Lullaby by Robert Austin. Available on Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Patreon!

Shane Culkin joins me to tell me about the murder of Brenda Schaefer. Mel Ignatow murdered his girlfriend Brenda Schaefer in the most brutal way possible and managed to get away with it. Hear the twists and turns this story takes...ultimately, with justice being denied for Brenda.

Shane Culkin joins me to tell me about the murder of Brenda Schaefer. Mel Ignatow murdered his girlfriend Brenda Schaefer in the most brutal way possible and managed to get away with it. Hear the twists and turns this story takes...ultimately, with justice being denied for Brenda.

Mel Ignatow was accused of killing the beautiful Brenda Schaefer. He was tried and acquitted of this crime, though investigators held fast to their beliefs that he did this terrible thing to Brenda. He could not be retried, however, due to a clause known as double jeopardy in our court system (one cannot be retried a second time for murder after being aquitted) even after other material came forth that made Mr. Ignatow look MORE guilty, including ex-girlfriend, Mary Ann Shore.Eventually, however, something would come knocking at his door, taking care of all that investigator's such as Jim Wesley and Roy Hazlewood were worried about. Mel would have his crimes tried in the ULTIMATE court of law and receive a sentence only karma could bring.*Karma definition - destiny or fate, the sum of a person's actions deciding their fate in future existences.

The conclusion to our three part series on Brenda Schaefer’s murder is here. What goes down during the ice cream sting? Is Mary Ann Shore able to get Mel Ignatow to confess what really happened? There’s a lot to unpack here and that’s where we’ll start. This is going to be a wild, karma-filled ride with a twist and a half for an ending.  Check out the book Double Jeopardy by Bob Hill: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0380721929/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5GEpFbNM18BFJ As always thank you to our sponsors! DailyHarvest: Keep it simple this summer with Daily Harvest! Go to http://DAILYHARVEST.com and enter promo code MORBID to get twenty- five dollars off your first box!  Bestfiends:  With over 100 million downloads and tons of five-star reviews, Best Fiends is a must-play! Download Best Fiends FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. That’s FRIENDS without the R – Best Fiends!

This week the girls cover one of the most infamous cases of double jeopardy in the history of true crime. In the late 80s, Mel Ignatow was known as the most hated man in Louisville after his much younger fiancee disappeared without a trace. Her car was found abandoned on an interstate near her home and Ignatow was the prime suspect. But, there was no evidence. Eventually they were able to bring him to trial after he was indicted by a grand jury. He was found not guilty. Months after his initial trial, he found himself back in a court room, this time for perjury after his accomplice in Brenda's murder came forward and he gave the FBI and a judge a full confession.  Primary Source: Double Jeopardy: Obsession, Murder, and Justice Denied by Bob Hill

This week the girls cover one of the most infamous cases of double jeopardy in the history of true crime. In the late 80s, Mel Ignatow was known as the most hated man in Louisville after his much younger fiancee disappeared without a trace. Her car was found abandoned on an interstate near her home and Ignatow was the prime suspect. But, there was no evidence. Eventually they were able to bring him to trial after he was indicted by a grand jury. He was found not guilty. Months after his initial trial, he found himself back in a court room, this time for perjury after his accomplice in Brenda's murder came forward and he gave the FBI and a judge a full confession.  Primary Source: Double Jeopardy: Obsession, Murder, and Justice Denied by Bob Hill

Lene tells Bunny about the poetic karma behind the murder of Brenda Shaefer and ultimate demise of Mel Ignatow.

On this week's episode, Hannah and April talk about the deaths of Albert Dekker and Mel Ignatow.

La justice des hommes est imparfaite. Les erreurs judiciaires les plus émouvantes sont celles qui privent un innocent de sa liberté, et parfois de sa vie. Mais la situation opposée, où un meurtrier échappe au glaive séculier n'est pas moins dramatique. Et quand il apparaît que l'individu ne peut plus être poursuivi quelque soit l'horreur de son crime et le poids écrasant des preuves rassemblées contre lui, le coeur crie vengeance, le plus souvent en vain. Parfois, rarement, cependant, il arrive que les astres s'alignent pour redresser une injustice. On parle de Karma, de destin ou de justice immanente. Le scientifique dira, lui, coïncidence. Mais dans cette affaire, on ne pourra que souligner à quel point le hasard a miraculeusement bien choisi son intermédiaire pour faire payer de son juste prix à Mel Ignatow le meurtre ignoble de Brenda Schaefer. // Pour suivre ma chaîne ou pour discuter, vous pouvez me trouver sur twitter : @buffetfroidpod ou sur facebook : @criminologiste ; vous pouvez partager ce podcast et inviter vos amis à s'abonner, laisser un commentaire sur iTunes ou une petite étoile, ça fait plaisir ! Crédits (licence CC): Musiques : Skeleton Carnival by Shane Ivers - www.silvermansound.com Yearning by Shane Ivers - www.silvermansound.com Bruitages : Jackie4Ever freesound.org

Brenda Sue Schaefer goes missing in 1988 and her ex-boyfriend Mel Ignatow quickly becomes the suspect. Years later, how does hidden evidence come back to bite him?

Karma. She is a cruel mistress. Ask Mel Ignatow. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coffincast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coffincast/support

September 24, 1988. Louisville, Kentucky. Brenda Sue Schaefer had not been lucky in love. When she was set up on a blind date with an older man named Mel Ignatow, she thought she had finally found the right guy. He was successful and gave Brenda a lot of attention. After a while, though, things began to sour and it was learned that Mel was very controlling and abusive. After Brenda broke things off with him, she went missing. Detectives got a lead when Mel Ignatow's ex-girlfriend, Mary Ann Shore was interviewed. But would this lead solve the case and bring a killer to justice? One thing is certain, once you have heard the details of this true crime case you will never forget it.

Stacey tells us about the gruesome murder of Brenda Schaefer whose break up with Mel Ignatow turned deadly when she tried to return some belongings. Erin recounts the mystery behind room 1046 and Roland T. Owen, who was a guest at the President Hotel when he died in suspicious circumstances.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ISGDpodcast)

Mel Ignatow murdered his fiancee Brenda Schaefer in Louisville, KY in September 1988. He enlisted the help a former girlfriend who ultimately turned on him. But a jury acquitted Ignatow of the murder of Brenda Schaefer. Six months after the trial, incriminating evidence was found in his house leaving no doubt that he murdered Brenda. Double jeopardy barred the state from going after Ignatow for the murder. Authorities would have to find another avenue to prosecute Ignatow.Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss "the most hated man in Louisville" Mel Ignatow. Did the juror get it wrong in his trial or did the prosecution not have enough evidence to prove he committed the murder? You be the judge.You can help support the show by going to patreon.com/truecrimeallthetimeVisit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact and merchandise information. You'll also find links for both patreon and paypal if you want to help support the show.

This weeks case takes us to Louisville, KY. It's a case that happened when I was 4, but one that I grew up hearing about. It was a notorious case for the area. To this day, the case is told as a cautionary tale about how even the most guilty suspect can still get away with their crime.   The 5th amendment of the constitution of the united states of america, reads in part “nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb”. In today's terms, it means that if you are found guilty if a crime like murder, you can't be tried for the same crime again. It keeps prosecutors from trying a case over and over until they find a jury willing to convict.   It's meant to keep our system fair.   But like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.   In this case, that road lead to a home in Louisville, Ky. Where 1 person would die, and 2 people would get away with it, despite irrefutable proof being found But, as sometimes happens, karma had the final say.   _________________   Brenda Sue Schaefer was 36 years old, loved by her family, friends, and coworkers. Born and raised in Louisville. Married right out of high school, the marriage only lasted 4 years, and the separation was hard on Brenda due to her strong religious beliefs. Afterwards, Brenda moved back in with her parents in a suburb outside of the main city.   Her next serious relationship was with dentist Jim Rush, this relationship would last 8 years, but ended due to disagreements and Jim's drinking.   In 1986, at age 34 Brenda's life took a turn, and unfortunately in a story that is all too familiar, red flags were ignored.   Brenda met 48 year old Melvin Ignatow in September of 1986. He was the father of 3 grown children, and shared a house with his mother. No one in Brenda's life really understood what she saw in him, but for whatever reason, the relationship continued. After only two months of dating, Ignatow proposed to Brenda. Ignoring her doubts, Brenda agreed, but refused to set a date for a wedding. Afterwards as is usually the case, Ignatows true personality came out. He became more controlling and abusive as time went on. Most of which Brenda tried to keep hidden from everyone. Brenda, a catholic, weary from failures of past relationships, and wanting to make things work, made excuses for Mel's behavior. He would berate her for being frigid, wanted her to engage in sexual acts she wasn't comfortable with, and eventually would start giving her pills. Pills that made her forgot what happened the night before. Once, Brenda even awoke to find Ignatow holding a rag soaked in chloroform near her face. He claimed he was only trying to help her relax.   Brenda eventually confided to friends. They told her to leave. They worried.   Despite not knowing what was really going on, Brenda's family still deeply disliked Mel. He was arrogant and demanding. They wanted Brenda to leave.   Brenda's boss, Dr Spalding, also saw part of this dark side. Ignatow would call Brenda repeatedly at work. Sometimes to yell at her.   Brenda still stayed.   Until 1988. 2 years into her relationship with Ignatow, Brenda had finally decided to leave. She had even started talking to her old boyfriend, Jim Rush again.   Ignatow could sense the end was coming, and he was not going to allow it to happen. Not on Brenda's terms. Ignatow contacted his ex girlfriend, Mary Ann Shore. Shore, who had continued a sexual relationship with ignatow despite his being with Brenda, would be described by the media and everyone else as overweight and unattractive compared to the slim and pretty Brenda. I think this characterization is unfair. What made Shore ugly was her personality, not her looks. She was selfish, rude, and did whatever Ignatow wanted.   Even the worst thing imaginable.   For a month, Ignatow and Shore plotted what they would do to an unsuspecting Brenda. They dug a grave in the woods near Shores house that was 6 feet deep, got their stories straight, and Ignatow even went so far as to make a checklist of the things he wanted to do to Brenda before killing her.   They finally put their plan into action on September 23rd, 1988.   That day Brenda and Ignatow agreed to meet so that Brenda could return some jewelry and officially break off the relationship.   Brenda ended up in Ignatows car, and Ignatow drove her to Shores house, claiming that he needed to pick something up.   As soon as they entered the house, Shore locked the door behind them, and the assault began. While Shore took dozens of photos, Ignatow made Brenda strip, grovel, and repeat his pre prepared script.   The assault began with Brenda being tied to a coffee table, beaten, sexually assaulted. Then taken to a bedroom, tied down, and sexually assaulted. The abuse and torture went on for hours. When Mel had finally checked everything off his list, he soaked a rag in chloroform and held it to Brenda's face until she was dead.   Afterwards, she was tied into a fetal position, wrapped in garbage bags, and buried. At just 36 years old, just when she was finally ready to be free of her abusive relationship, Brenda Sue Schaefer was dead. But the indignity of what happened to her didn't stop with her death. The court system would deliver one last blow. It would shock a city, devastate Brenda's family, and reveal how easily some murderers can go free.     ________________________ Brenda's family immediately knew something was wrong. Brenda's mother, who at the time was suffering from lupus, stayed up most of the night waiting for Brenda to come home. It was unlike her to not show up when she said she would, and by 3am, her mother was deeply concerned.   The next day, the 24th, Brenda's mother called Ignatow to see if he knew where Brenda was. Ignatow claimed he hadn't seen her since they parted company the previous day. Ignatow then contacted police to report Brenda missing.   On September 25th, Brenda's car was found abandoned on the side of Interstate 65. One of the rear tires was flat, the windows were smashed, and the radio had been stolen. Where the car was found was only a half mile from Brenda's house. So police thought that had the car broken down, Brenda would have easily walked home.   When police went to the family news to tell the family Brenda's car had been located, Brenda's brothers strongly suspected she was dead. They also thought they knew who did it. When Ignatow arrived at the family home to help figure out where Brenda could be, the family found his crying and concern fake.   Weeks went by with no sign of Brenda. Her brother Tom, and his girlfriend Melinda went to police to inform them of their suspicions about Ignatows involvement. Before She went missing, Brenda had confided to Melinda that Ignatow had been sexually abusing her, and that she wanted out.   Police did eventually interview Ignatow. When they met him at his house, they were surprised that Ignatow had already prepared a written list of the days events.   Mel's timeline of that day went as follows: He claimed that Brenda picked him up around 3pm   They went to boat show, but changed their minds because it was raining, and did not exit the car.   Instead they parked and talked.   Afterwards he said the two drove to an art fair, but once again did not exit the car.   Eventually Brenda dropped him off at home and left. He hadn't seen her since.   Ignatow even admitted he looked like a suspect.   Police were extremely suspicious, but had no evidence or leads to go on.   By february of 1989, the police had run out of leads. _____________ But the people in Brenda's life had not given up. Brenda's boss, Dr. Spalding, knew that Ignatow had killed Brenda. He even went on local news saying so. He didn't have any proof, but he knew. People in Louisville knew too. The local paper, the Courier journal printed an article pointing to Mel Ignatow.   Frustrated that nothing was happening, Dr Spalding sent an anonymous letter to Ignatow in march of 1989. The letter threatened to kill Ignatow unless he revealed where Brenda's body was.   Spalding was arrested, and charged with threatening Ignatow.   In August of 1989 Mel was a witness in the trial of Spalding, Ignatow once again, under oath, claimed that he didn't know what had happened to Brenda.   In the end, Spalding was fined $300. He was happy to pay.   __________________________________ After that trial, in October of 1989, a little over a year since Brenda went missing, the local prosecutor decided to convene a grand jury and bring Ignatow in for questioning. This is where Ignatow would make his first mistake. During questioning, he mentioned Mary Ann Shore and that they had started their relationship again a month after Brenda vanished, something that the police weren't aware of before.   Detective brought Shore in for questioning, but no matter what they said or tactics they used, even after failing a polygraph test.   Shore still wasn't talking.   Not yet. ________________ The grand jury decided to subpoena Shore. During questioning, Shore got caught in a lie after claiming she had only ever met Brenda once.   This caused Shore to get up and flea the room.   It all became to much for Shore and finally, during another round of questioning on Jan 9th 1990 she finally admitted that she had helped kill Brenda and knew where the body was. She took a deal, she would plead guilty to tampering with evidence if she showed police the location of Brenda's body, and helped them catch Ignatow by wearing a wire.   ______________________ Shore met with Ignatow and told him that the police had been pressuring her, and that she was worried the property behind her house would be developed soon.   Ignatow was furious, and berated Shore, explaining to her how she should deal with the police. Telling her that the hole they dug was deep enough. No one would find it. He never actually mentioned the murder or Brenda.   But police thought they had enough, and on January 19th 1990 they arrested Ignatow at his home.   Despite thorough searches of Ignatow and Shores homes, no physical evidence was found that could tie ignatow to the murder.   Later that day, Brenda's body was finally recovered. Her family finally knew what had happened to Brenda. 6 months later, Brenda’s mother finally succumbed to her battle with Lupus. 7 months after that, Brenda’s father died.   _______ Ignatows lawyer argued that his client wouldn't be able to get a fair trial in Louisville, so the judge agreed that the trial would be held in a different city about 100 miles away and the trial began in December of 1991.     It did not go well for the prosecutor. Shore, they key witness, performed badly on the stand. Dressed inappropriately and laughing, she didn't come across as credible. Ignatows lawyer used her behavior and testimony to claim that she was the real murderer of Brenda.   Since Brenda had been buried for over a year, the physical evidence on her body was gone, leaving the prosecutor with no evidence to tie Ignatow to the murder either. Ignatows lawyer also argued that the audio was bad, and that you couldn't tell exactly what Ignatow was referring to being buried. Ignatows lawyer proposed that his client was actually referring to a safe that his clint and shore had buried.   For reasons that still confuse everyone else to this day, the jury only took 6 hours to decide that Melvin Ignatow was not guilty of murdering Brenda Sue Schaefer. He was cleared of all charges.   On December 23rd, 1991, Ignatow left the court a free man.   Louisville residents, the prosecutor, police, and even the judge were angry at the jurors. When pressed about their decision, the best reasoning the jurors had was that the case simply wasn't strong enough.   Mary Ann Shore, following through with her plea, was sentenced to 5 years in prison in February of 1992.   ____________ But prosecutors were not finished with Ignatow. Unable to convict him on murder, they decided to try and catch him on perjury charges.   They charged him with perjury over his testimony in the murder trial.   Detectives asked the new owners of Ignatows old house if they could search it again, but were denied. However luck would be on their side. Just a few days before Ignatows perjury trial began, a carpet installer working in Ignatows old house found an air vent hidden under some carpet. Inside he found something that would have changed the entire outcome of Ignatows murder trial. Inside the vent, wrapped in baggies, was the jewelry Brenda had taken to Ignatow the night of her murder. Along with the jewelry, dozens of rolls of undeveloped film. Police were called.   After developing the film, which resulted in over 100 pictures, a terrifying timeline of Brenda's last few hours emerged. Pictures from the beginning, to the end, of Brenda's assault and torture were on the film. And although Ignatows face was never in the frame, police were able to match moles on his body to the ones in the pictures.   Ignatow was convicted of perjury, and sentenced to 8 years in prison. During the sentencing, Ignatow made a statement admitting the the murder. During which he turned to the members of Brenda family in the court and said, “She died peacefully.”   But due to having previously been in jail when he awaited his murder trial and good behavior, he was released after just 5 years.   Prosecutors still weren't done.   They charged him for perjury again for lying under oath in the trial against Brenda's boss, Dr Spalding. Ignatow was found guilty again, and sentenced to 9 years in prison.   In 2004, Mary Ann Shore died while in hospice care at the age of 54.   Ignatow was released in 2006 and lived in a house just 4 miles from where he had murdered Brenda.   By all accounts, he was still as smug as ever but tried to keep to himself.   In 2008, fate, karma, or whatever you call it, finally caught up to him. On September 1st, 2008, almost 20 years after he tied Brenda to a coffee table to rape and torture her, Melvin Ignatow was found dead in his apartment.   Ignatow had bled to death, alone. He had fallen on his coffee table and cut open his head and arm. __________ If you’re being abused and need help, you can contact the national domestic violence hotline at 1−800−799−7233. If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault or rape, even at the hands of your partner or spouse, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1 800 656 4673.

What a huge goddamn relief, it's a new My Favorite Murder! This week Karen and Georgia talk about the folie à deux of the Eriksson twins and the crimes of Mel Ignatow. Plus a hometown murder from comedian Kurt Braunohler.

Listen to Episode 3, a detailed episode that chronicles the story of then 36-year-old Brenda Sue Schaefer and her unfortunate demise in Louisville, Kentucky in 1988. Brenda was killed by ex-boyfriend, Mel Ignatow, but not before being kidnapped, raped, sodomized, and tortured by him first. Much to Louisville’s dismay, Mel was acquitted of the murder. However, after an incredible discovery six months later in October of 1992, he was proven to be the killer…only nothing could be done about it: double jeopardy saved him, and the town was infuriated. Learn about Brenda, how she became entangled with Mel Ignatow, how the trial proceeded, and Ignatow’s own coincidental but karmaic ending