Episode 224: Alleen Rowe and Gretchen and Wendy Fritz | The Pied Piper of Tucson

Two screams pierced the silent, unseasonably warm and windy night of October 13, 1997 in Lawrenceville, Illinois. The first, was that of 10 year old Joel Kirkpatrick as he desperately sought help against the person who had entered his room in the black of night and had attacked him with a knife. The second scream was that of his mother’s as she ran to her neighbors house and pounded on their door desperately seeking help. She begged for them to open up. “They’ve got Joel”, she bellowed into the closed door, “They took Joel.”Once the shock of what had happened settled, and the years went on the question that lingered was whether or not the person that hurt Joel was the least likeliest suspect or the dangerous stranger that had rolled into town with that warm wind.Trigger warning: violence against a childSources:https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/news/bloodstain-pattern-analysis-another-subjective-science-convicting-innocent-people/https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/2004/06/26/court-overturns-rea-convictio/118184118/https://www.uis.edu/illinoisinnocenceproject/julie-reahttps://nationalpublicdata.com/people/r/julie-rea/tn/martin/pd06p1qslq5zi0nmlilw2zf05nyb8p17/https://www.illinoistimes.com/news/who-killed-joel-11440266/https://www.propublica.org/article/bloodstain-pattern-analysis-jury-wrongful-conviction-acquitted-exoneratedhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/84706396/?terms=Joel%20Kirkpatrickhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/84742918/?match=1&terms=Joel%20Kirkpatrickhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/84769767/?match=1&terms=Joel%20Kirkpatrickhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/84769827/?terms=Joel%20Kirkpatrickhttps://www.illinoistimes.com/news/who-killed-joel-11440266/https://www.facebook.com/ABC2020/videos/julie-rea-recalls-what-happened-night-her-son-was-killed-2020-goodnight-mother/854470515223652/https://wwws.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/documents/nulawreporterwparticle.pdfThrough the Window: The Terrifying True Story of Cross-Country Killer Tommy Lynn Sells by Diane Fanning

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, guilt does not stay buried. It festers beneath crowns and costumes, slipping through rehearsed smiles and whispered prayers. A kingdom rots from the inside, not because of the murder alone, but because of the secret that follows it,  heavy and impossible to silence. “O, my offence is rank,” King Claudius confesses, discovering that even a throne cannot shield a poisoned conscience. In the bedroom of a teenager, centuries later, those same words would land a little too close to home.In this case we will explore a modern tragedy shaped by Shakespearean shadows: ambition without a crown, desperation without a dagger, and a confession that would echo far beyond the pages of a play. Because sometimes the most dangerous poison isn’t poured into a cup, it’s carried in the heart, waiting for its moment to speak.Sourceshttps://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/poisoning-daddy/https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/3/3/https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/sigald/243671https://www.newspapers.com/image/644815133/?terms=Marie%20Robardshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/823666883/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Robardshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/644815129/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Robardshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/646308983/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Robards

In today’s case a similar situation to the one we covered in Episode 224 arose in central Florida in the Spring of 2011, but this time with a 21st century twist. The teens exhibited the same type of behavior we saw in 1965 in Tucson but this time social media was present to fan the flames of an all too familiar fire caused by jealous, and hierarchical, high-conformity behavior…and just like last time someone would lose their life. Join me as I tell John the case of Seath Jackson. SponsorsFactor Mealsfactormeals.com/truecrimecouple50off and use code truecrimecouple50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a yearNOCDGo to NOCD.com to schedule a free 15-minute call with their team and find out more about how they can help.Sources:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1557636/#:~:text=Rather%20than%20a%20sense%20of,Steinberg%20&%20Silverberg%2C%201986).https://psychcentral.com/lib/click-or-clique-positive-and-negative-teen-social-groups#:~:text=Members%20are%20discouraged%20from%20being,are%20valued%20for%20their%20individuality.&text=Natural%20leaders%20may%20emerge%20but,t%20find%20mutually%20trusting%20relationships.https://www.marionschools.net/parents__students__and_community/parents/Student_Enrollment/your_zoned_schoolhttps://www.circuit5.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/soto-sentencing-5-30-12.pdfhttps://www.ocala.com/story/news/crime/2012/09/05/man-charged-as-accessory-in-seath-murder-case-ruled-incompetent/64312725007/https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=U46099&TypeSearch=AIhttps://www.ocala.com/story/news/crime/2018/03/20/guilty-plea-to-accessory-in-murder-of-seath-jackson/12948232007/https://www.ocala.com/story/news/crime/2020/06/17/charlie-ely-wins-freedom/42153993/https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2011/04/21/facebook-posts-show-troubled-relationship-before-murder/64298523007/https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/state/2016/02/23/amber-wright-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-a-second-time-for-summerfield-murder/31892000007/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1866390.html#footnote_ref_2"Seath Jackson - Sleeping With a Killer (Season 1, Episode 12)". Apple TV. 2021. Retrieved February, 2026.

By the summer of 1965 three teenage girls had gone missing from Tucson, AZ. When the truth would finally come to light the members of the community would be forced to question everything they knew to be true…and also what their children had been up to.Join me as I tell John the cases of Alleen Rowe and Gretchen and Wendy Fritz. Patreon.com/truecrimecoupleSponsors:NOCDIf you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started:https://learn.nocd.com/TCCSources:https://altsclass.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/8/0/38808759/lifemagazinepiedpiper.doc.pdfhttps://tucson.com/morguetales/article_db508906-e3de-11df-af58-001cc4c002e0.htmlhttps://tucson.com/morguetales/article_0826e27c-e245-11df-b65f-001cc4c03286.htmlhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166810356/james_mcilroy-fritz#view-photo=162428330https://law.justia.com/cases/arizona/supreme-court/1973/1720-0.htmlNewspapers.com Access to the Daily News,Arizona Daily Star, and the Los Angeles Times from 1966-182

The city of Austin found itself in a predicament in late 1988. A horrific crime was committed against a young mother in broad daylight, in a well known establishment on a busy street. The unsolved crime would largely impact the city’s reputation for having the lowest crime rate of all of Texas’s great cities…so it was time to solve the murder of Nancy DePriest, let’s see how they did it.Instagram: TruecrimecouplePatreon.com/truecrimecouple | Join for ad free episodes and two bonus episodes a month!Sponsors:True Crime Society PodcastSources:https://exonerationregistry.org/cases/10386https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/third-court-of-appeals/1991/4881.htmlhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/649638052/?match=1&terms=nancy%20depriesthttps://www.newspapers.com/image/364054228/?match=1&terms=nancy%20depriesthttps://www.newspapers.com/image/363966719/?match=1&terms=nancy%20depriesthttps://www.facebook.com/groups/742034912983989/posts/2019627575224710/https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/hector-polanco-andre-causey-false-confessions/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/burden/innocents/danziger.htmlhttps://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/03/09/facing-her-daughter-s-killer-at-lasthttps://www.justice.gov/archives/dag/file/877741/dl?inline=#:~:text=Forensic%20hair%20examiners%20generally%20recognize,Forensic%20Examination%20ofhttps://nij.ojp.gov/nij-hosted-online-training-courses/crime-scene-and-dna-basics-forensic-analysts/history-and-types-forensic-dna-testing/polymerase-chain-reaction-pcr/dq-alphahttps://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/austin-police-hector-polanco-yogurt-shop-murders/269-160c495f-9212-420c-ad47-edf02bea3d5ahttps://law.wisc.edu/fjr/clinicals/ip/https://innocenceproject.org/about/#:~:text=We've%20helped%20free%20more,and%20advance%20the%20innocence%20movement.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-21-me-confess21-story.htmlhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261908704/richard_edward-danziger

On Halloween night of 1992 something happened that divided the small farming town of Kipling, Saskatchewan. A young single mother accused the town’s well respected doctor of sexual assault while under his care. Wanting to save his reputation, the doctor took a blood test to prove his DNA was not a match for the samples found during the performance of a sexual assault exam. It was not a match. Despite this, Candice, the accuser, was adamant about what had happened. Join me as I tell John about the case of the ‘Good Doctor’.Sponsors:MasterclassMasterclass.com/tcc to get an additional 15% off any annual membershipSources:https://www.newspapers.com/image/497356653/?terms=john%20schneebergerhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-endless-nightmare-of-lisa-dillman/article761440/https://forensictales.com/case-of-dr-john-schneeberger/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19616-midazolam-injectionhttps://www.iflscience.com/a-doctor-cheated-dna-tests-by-implanting-somebody-elses-blood-into-his-arm-59380https://www.newspapers.com/image/496716610/?match=1&terms=john%20schneebergerForensic Files Interviews Season8, Episode 8

In today's case we have an entire family at the center of our story and theirs is one of love, good times, and wealth but when the good times stop rolling tragedy strikes. Join me as I tell John the case of the Grossman/Jenkins Family.Sponsors:QuinceQuince.com/crimecoupleSources:https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/575629657/?match=1&terms=george%20jenkinshttps://www.socialaw.com/services/slip-opinions/slip-opinion-details/commonwealth-vs.-joshua-y.-jenkinshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/13g5GyHJibNFmwlo1004jfIiTX7F6ZXeq/viewhttps://www.vistadelmarhospital.com/programs/adolescenthttps://www.newspapers.com/image-view/575629657/?match=1&terms=george%20jenkinshttps://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/feb/27/police-say-teen-plotted-slaying/

The Ewell family celebrated Easter weekend together at their beach house in Pajaro Dunes, CA. They spent those days together playing tennis and walking on the beach, their vacation home echoing with warmth and familiarity. The family of four had no clue that those beautiful moments they shared that weekend would be their last. Back at their home in Fresno someone waited, silent, patient, and merciless for them to return. Late that Sunday afternoon, as they stepped inside, they were murdered one by one.Because things are so hectic we decided to release a patreon episode into our regular feed (this was patreon episode 150 released in the fall just after John had missed an episode the week before). Don't worry we cleared it with our AMAZING patreon subscribers first! We also think its a great way to show you what is available on our patreon feed twice a month for just $5! Please enjoy!

On December 11, 1974 Patricia Ann Ross had a hot date, or at least one that she hoped would be. Unfortunately, she would never find out because as she got ready to go out that night she was brutally attacked in her apartment. Join me as I tell John the case of Annie Greenthings.Sponsors:QuinceQuince.com/CRIMECOUPLE for free shipping on your order and 365-day returnsUncommon GoodsUncommongoods.com/tcc for 15% off! Sources:https://behindthebadge.com/anatomy-cold-case-40-years-la-palma-police-believe-killer/https://lizjin.medium.com/victims-dog-helps-solve-city-s-oldest-cold-case-a0c0c1317a96https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-prison-sentence-oc-killing-20180507-story.htmlAccess to archived articles from the LA Times, Press Telegram, Daily News-Post, Anaheim Bulletin through Newspapers.com 

In 1995, the Campbellton Road neighborhood of southwest Atlanta was rocked by the brutal murder of 14 year old Nacole Smith. The crime would haunt the community for decades. Nearly ten years later, a young girl in nearby East Point survived a horrific attack with unsettling echoes of Nacole’s case. Join me as I tell John the heartbreaking cases of Nacole Smith and Betty Brown and we explore the parallel stories of two young victims, the forensics that tied their experiences together, and the long, painful wait for the truth. Sponsors: Uncommon Goods Uncommongoods.com/tcc for 15% off Sources: https://www.disastercenter.com/georgia/crime/2726.htm https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/page/832 https://www.newspapers.com/image/799530544/?match=1&terms=Nacole%20SMith https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/atlanta-nicole-smith https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/us/atlanta-child-murders.html https://www.ajc.com/news/local/years-later-year-old-brutal-killing-remains-unsolved/jBg57t8HJscJGpObfClDQL/ Newspapers.com Accessed archived articles from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Daily World, Atlanta Voice, and the Fulton COunty Daily Report from 1995-2022 Cold Case Files: a Fatal Path  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlHQTDFNufg