Episode 210: The Murder of Rita Hester

Can you believe this is the 80th installment of True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series? Today, Katie and Liz share two stories that have felt like a theme throughout these episodes. First, Liz tells of the murder of Luis Fernando Gonzalez-Sandoz, a man who was shot in the streets of Fair Haven, Connecticut in 2011. Katie then discusses the mysterious disappearance of Jesus De La Cruz in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1996. Both cases remain unsolved. Anyone with any information on the murder of Luis Fernando Gonzalez-Sandoz is asked to please call the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304. Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Jesus De La Cruz is asked to please call the Lynn Police Department at 781-595-2000 or the Massachusetts State Police at 781-396-0100. 

Join Katie and Liz on this week’s episode of True Crime New England as they discuss the case that inspired the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, an acknowledgement of the unsolved murder of Rita Hester. On November 28th, 1998, 34-year-old trans woman Rita Hester was found stabbed to death in her Allston, Massachusetts apartment. What followed was local media and law enforcement misgendering and deadnaming her, putting a harsh mark on trying to raise awareness of a woman who was so brutally slain. Despite the awareness and advocacy from her loved ones, Rita’s heinous murder remains unsolved.Anyone with any information on the murder of Rita Hester is asked to please call the Boston Police Department through their anonymous tip line at 1-800-494-8477 or by texting “TIP” to CRIME (27463).

Another Sunday, another installment of True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series. This week, Katie kicks off with the upsetting story of the murder of Amos Brown Jr. Amos was shot and killed in the streets of Norwalk, Connecticut on August 13th, 2010. Then, Liz shares the tale of the senseless murder of college student Kanagala Seshardi Rao, an Indian immigrant who was killed on April 19th, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. Both cases remain unsolved.Anyone with any information on the murder of Amos Brown Jr. is asked to please call the Connecticut Cold Case Hotline at 866-623-8058. Anyone with any information on the murder of Kanagala Seshadri Rao is asked to please contact Boston police at 1-(800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463).

Join Katie and Liz on the last episode of the 2025 Spooky Halloween Extravaganza Party VIP Experience ™ as they talk about the mysteriously infamous Bridgewater Triangle. Given the name by the well-known cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, the 200 square mile area in Massachusetts is home to extensive lore and intrigue due to paranormal sightings, strange first-hand accounts, and an elaborate history. People have reported seeing UFOs, cryptids, and even ghostly apparitions within the confines of this triangle. Tune in to hear about some of the landmarks, some of the legends, and some of the satanic forays that took place in the Bridgewater Triangle. 

Tune in for another addition of True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series! This week, Liz starts the episode off by discussing the May 1999 disappearance of Angel Antonio "Tony" Torres out of Barre, Massachusetts. Tony was last seen in Biddeford, Maine. Then, Katie tells the horrifying murder of Shanike "Nikki" Roldan. On November 3rd, 2019, Nikki was seen running down School Street in Springfield, Massachusetts when she was shot and killed. Her killer left clues to lead to his eventual arrest, including threatening text messages. If you or anyone you know has any information on the disappearance of Angel Antonio Torres, please call the Maine State Police at 207-657-3030.

For this week’s Spooky Halloween Extravaganza VIP Haunted Spectacular ™ episode, the girls of True Crime New England head over to Burlington, Vermont to discuss one of their favorite topics: why the Catholic Church is the worst. Katie and Liz look into the entire history of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, a children’s home that was open from 1854 to 1974, and housed over 13,000 children in its 120 year lifespan. After the closure of the orphanage, residents began to come forward and tell the horrible experiences of abuse of all kinds that came from nuns and priests alike, attempting to file lawsuits and get justice for the horrifying things they endured. Tune in to hear horrific details of life at St. Joseph’s Orphanage, and get some real perspective as to what these kids went through. 

It's that time again- another Sunday, another installment from True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series! First, Katie tells the very confusing and unsettling disappearance of 29-year-old Celeste Doghmi, who was reported missing in 2023, two years after she was last heard from in Auburn, Maine. Then, Liz discusses the case of the disappearance of 20-year-old Israel Rosado, who was last seen getting into a truck with an unknown man outside his apartment in Bristol, Connecticut in 2004. Both of these cases remain unsolved. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Celeste Doghmi is asked to please call Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit at (207) 624-7076 or the Auburn Police Department's anonymous tip line at 207-333-6653. Anyone who has any information regarding the disappearance of Israel Rosado is asked to please call the Bristol Police Department at 860-584-3011.

Now that it is October again, the girls are back with the first episode of True Crime New England’s Spooky Halloween Extravaganza VIP Party Spectacular ™! To kick things off, Katie and Liz discuss the case of the Bridgeport Poltergeist out of Connecticut, which involves some of their favorite recurring characters for the podcast- Ed and Lorraine Warren. Tune in to hear the interesting tales of the Goodin family and the hauntings that took over their lives in the fall of 1974, and decide for yourself: real or hoax?

Another Sunday, another installment of True Crime New England's case profile mini-episode series! For this week's episode, Liz starts the show off by talking about the very troubling and concerning disappearance of Miguel Oliveras, who was last seen at a Portland, Maine nightclub in September of 2006. Then, Katie talks about the horrific murder of mother Annie Murchison, who was found crudely stabbed in her Springfield, Massachusetts apartment in 1977. Both cases remain unsolved to this day. Anyone with any information regarding Miguel Oliveras’ location should call the Portland Police Department at (207) 814-8584 or FBI Boston at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with any information on the murder of Annie Murchison is asked to please call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355.

Join Katie and Liz on another episode of True Crime New England as they discuss a decades-long unsolved murder. 27-year-old Leslie Spellman was hitchhiking with her younger sister in June of 1977, when they separated ways to try and end up at different locations. Unfortunately, Leslie was found the next morning in Northeast Harbor, Maine, bludgeoned to death. Due to the circumstances leading up to her death, like hitchhiking and being far from her home in Hingham, Massachusetts, the evidence of who did the crime was scarce. While she has potentially been connected to two serial killers, there has never been an official suspect named. Now, nearing 50 years later, her murder remains unsolved. Anyone with any information on the murder of Leslie Spellman is asked to please call Maine State Police at (207) 973-3750 or toll free at 800–432–7381.