The Bystander Effect

#truecrime #truestory #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #indypodcast #TilDeathDoUsPartPodcast #TDDUP #DOBETTER  #newepisode 

A young teacher and saleswoman walks into a city hall basement on Halloween week and ends up at the center of one of Illinois' strangest unsolved mysteries. What happened to Elfrida Knack, the "lady in the furnace" - and why did her own story keep changing until the very end? Stephanie and Natalia unravel the eerie 1928 Lake Bluff case that starts with a janitor finding a woman nearly burned beyond recognition and only gets more unsettling from there. The clues are bizarre, the timeline is messy, and the people closest to Elfrida - including police chief Barney Rosenhagen and night officer Charles Hitchcock - make the story even harder to pin down. Perfect for spooky-season listening and anyone who wants a deeply strange case that still has people arguing more than 100 years later.#spiritualsweetheart #elfriedaknaak #theladyinthefurnace #chicago #hometowns #booboxes #alibi #newepisode #glimmer #TDDUP #newepisode #historicalcrime #TilDeathDoUsPartPodcast #history #chicagotribune #podcast #electrocutionishardtopronounce #ghostparticles #particles #gasprices #techissues Sources:https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/il/lake-bluffhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfrieda_Knaak "Girl Found in Lake Bluff Police Station Near Death from Burns Says She Thrust Self into Flames as Love Test". The Chicago Tribune. 31 October 1928. p. 46.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImvJSSLLCto&t=612s Scary Interesting

Sources“Commonwealth v. Pomeroy.” Massachusetts Reports, vol. 117, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 1875, p. 143. vLex, https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/commonwealth-v-pomeroy-906458702. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Keetley, Dawn. “The Injuries of Reading: Jesse Pomeroy and the Dire Effects of Dime Novels.” Journal of American Studies, vol. 47, no. 3, Aug. 2013, pp. 673–697. Cambridge Core, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-american-studies/article/abs/injuries-of-reading-jesse-pomeroy-and-the-dire-effects-of-dime-novels/BD7DDB3E590B4EBCD93861DB3A0B2616. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Keetley, Dawn. Making a Monster: Jesse Pomeroy, the Boy Murderer of 1870s Boston. University of Massachusetts Press, 2017.Pomeroy, Jesse Harding. Autobiography of Jesse H. Pomeroy. J. A. Cummings and Co., 1875. HathiTrust Digital Library, https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102427927. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.“Jesse Harding Pomeroy Materials in the City Archives.” Jesse Harding Pomeroy: Massachusetts’ Youngest Killer, City of Boston Archives, https://cityofbostonarchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/pomeroy/pomeroy/items. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Hodgson, Jack. “‘They’re Not Children Anymore’: Juveniles as Adult Defendants in US Criminal Justice, 1786–2000.” Adulthood in Britain and the United States from 1350 to Generation Z, edited by Maria Cannon and Laura Tisdall, University of London Press, 2024, https://read.uolpress.co.uk/read/adulthood-in-britain-and-the-united-states-from-1350-to-generation-z/section/3216cf14-6d06-4b69-9b4a-08b874b1f9b3. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.“Carl Mahan, 6-Year-Old Slayer of His Chum, Cecil Van Hoose.” Payne County News, vol. 37, no. 75, 4 June 1929, p. 4. The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1589089/m1/4/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Braun, Stephen, and Julie Cart. “6-Year-Old Mich. Girl Is Killed by Classmate.” Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2000, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-01-mn-4152-story.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.CBSNews.com Staff. “Murder in the First Grade.” CBS News, 7 Mar. 2000, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murder-in-the-first-grade/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.“Jail Time for Letting Boy Get Gun.” CBS News, 11 Sept. 2000, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jail-time-for-letting-boy-get-gun/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.In re Joseph H. 237 Cal. App. 4th 517. California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, 8 June 2015. Justia, https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2015/e059942.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Dolan, Maura. “Court Lets Stand a Ruling That a 10-Year-Old Can Validly Waive Miranda Rights.” Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2015, https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-child-miranda-right-20151016-story.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Wallace, Amy. “A Very Dangerous Boy.” GQ, 4 Nov. 2013, https://www.gq.com/story/joseph-hall-murders-neo-nazi-father-story. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.“Supreme Court Declines Review in Murder of Neo-Nazi Father.” Southern Poverty Law Center, 6 Oct. 2016, https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/supreme-court-declines-review-murder-neo-nazi-father/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Axelrod, Tal. “Youngest Children Ever to Be Tried as Adults for 1st-Degree Murder to Be Released Soon.” ABC News, 23 July 2015, https://abcnews.com/US/youngest-children-adults-1st-degree-murder-released/story?id=32644967. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.Ortiz, Erik. “America’s Youngest Convicted Murderers Are Being Released.” MS NOW, 27 July 2015, https://www.ms.now/msnbc/americas-youngest-convicted-murderers-are-being-released-msna647971. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.“Nation’s Youngest Convicted Murderer Released from Prison.” KSL.com, 28 July 2015, https://www.ksl.com/article/35697169. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026. Associated Press.“Second of 2 Youngest Convicts Released from Florida Prison.” WFTV 9, 1 Aug. 2015, https://www.wftv.com/news/local/second-2-youngest-convicts-released-florida-prison/3232580

Thank you for your patience while we figured out tech issues, and thank you for being here!He was hiding in the attic… while the house’s residents tried to explain the strange sounds, missing food, and eerie presence.The Denver Spider-Man case is the kind of true-crime story that makes you wonder: how long could someone be living right above you without you knowing?Would you stay in that house after finding out? 👀Listen to the full episode through the link in our bio.#TrueCrimePodcast #TrueCrime #MurderMystery #DenverSpiderMan #PodcastReels

This week Natalia discusses the case of Paris Bennett, who murdered his sister when he was only 13 years old. TW for everything. SourcesResearch & Production Note: This episode was researched and written with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which was used to help locate sources, organize the case chronology, compare accounts, and develop portions of the episode structure. Factual claims were cross-checked against the sources listed below.Barajas, Michael. “Murder Destroyed Charity Lee’s Family, Forever Altered Her Concept of Justice.” San Antonio Current, 2013.Lee, Charity, and Brian Whitney. How Now, Butterfly?: A Memoir of Murder, Survival, and Transformation. WildBlue Press, 2020.Fabian, Steven. “Mother Says She Has Forgiven Son Who Stabbed His 4-Year-Old Sister 17 Times.” Inside Edition, 7 Feb. 2018.The Family I Had. Directed by Katie Green and Carlye Rubin, Smoke & Apple Films, 2017.Psychopath with Piers Morgan. ITV, 27 June 2019.

What really goes on when we sleep? Can we control our actions? Explore the fascinating world of sleepwalking and the real-life cases that challenge our understanding of responsibility and consciousness. Join us for a deep dive into parasomnias, bizarre sleep behaviors, and the mysteries of the sleeping brain.

In this episode, Natalia and Stephanie delve into the concept of the bystander effect, using the tragic case of Kitty Genovese as a focal point. They discuss the psychological factors that contribute to individuals' reluctance to intervene in emergencies, the societal implications of this phenomenon, and the importance of encouraging proactive behavior in crisis situations. The conversation emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals to act and the potential impact of their actions on community safety.Instagram: @TilDeathDoUsPartPodcastTikTok: @tildeathdouspartpodFacebook: Natalia StephanieEmail: [email protected]#truecrime #truestory #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #indypodcast #TilDeathDoUsPartPodcast #TDDUP #DOBETTER  #newepisode 

#truecrime #truestory #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #indypodcast #TilDeathDoUsPartPodcast #TDDUP  #newepisode SourcesEvans, S. (2018, September 2). Murderer who strangled teen girlfriend attacks new lover - who’s standing by him. The Mirror. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/murderer-who-strangled-oxford-university-13180351Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). (2018, September 19). The Gazette: UK news since 1873. https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved September 1, 2024, from https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/rachel-mclean-murder-a-bright-student-with-the-world-at-her-feet-578474?r=2225Murder of Rachel McLean - Wikiwand. (n.d.). https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Murder_of_Rachel_McLean\Wikipedia contributors. (2024, August 31). Murder of Rachel McLean. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Rachel_McLean

In this episode, the hosts delve into the complexities of the Mann Act, exploring its historical context and its implications on modern society. They discuss notable cases involving figures like Jack Johnson, Chuck Berry, and R. Kelly, highlighting how the law has been used and misused over the years. The conversation also touches on the broader themes of justice, discrimination, and the evolution of legal frameworks.Sources: YouTube @AisleTells and @LordanArtsWikipediaInstagram: @TilDeathDoUsPartPodcastTikTok: @tildeathdouspartpodFacebook: Natalia StephanieEmail: [email protected]#truecrime #truestory #truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcast #indypodcast #TilDeathDoUsPartPodcast #TDDUP #DOBETTER  #newepisode #mannact #diddy #freakoff #babyoil #jackjohnson #history #historicalcrime #therealstory #glimmer #resolution #planetfitness #notasponsoryet 

This week Natalia discusses the first case ever tried and convicted without a corpse. How much proof do we really need before we decide someone is guilty? SOURCESJustia US Law. (1976). State v. Zarinsky. https://law.justia.com. Retrieved December 27, 2025, from https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-published/1976/143-n-j-super-35-0.htmlBlanco, J. I. (n.d.). Robert Zarinsky | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zarinsky-robert.htmOpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/