Episode 231: The Murder of Marietta Ball

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, Katie and Liz take another trip in the time machine to the year of 1874, in St. Albans, Vermont to discuss the murder of 20-year-old Marietta Ball. A schoolteacher living in the neighborhood known as The Hill, Marietta left her work on a Friday in July in 1874 and was subsequently found murdered after an apparent ambush. What would follow was an obsessive manhunt throughout the town that caused a lot of accusations and theories, but ultimately the brutal murder of a teenage girl in a nearby New Hampshire town would lead to some further connections and suspects in her murder. 

How has there already been 100 installments of True Crime New England’s case profile mini-episode series?! Katie and Liz stick with the theme and share two very heartbreaking and tragic murders. First, Liz starts off our big 100th episode with the murder of 21-year-old Richard Whitaker Jr., who died in June of 2021 in New Haven, Connecticut. Then, Katie talks about the unsolved murder of 19-year-old mom, Jackie Liriano, who was murdered in July of 1985 in Southington, Connecticut.If you or anyone you know has any information on the murder of Jackie Liriano, please contact the Eastern District Major Crime Squad at 860-896-3230.

Take a trip in the time machine this week for this episode of True Crime New England! For this case, Katie and Liz head all the way back to 1916 to discuss the murderous story of three cream puffs. Hattie Oakley, a widowed mother of one, found herself falling for the guy she was shacking up with, Henry Cassavant. When she finds out she’s not the only girl in his life after he promised to marry her, she takes matters into her own hands and uses a sweet treat to exact her revenge. Only, she ended up with a different result than she would have liked. 

It’s already the 99th installment of True Crime New England’s case profile mini-episode series… can you believe it? This week, Katie starts off the episode by talking about the unsolved murder of 21-year-old Christine Tortoro from August of 1988 in Hartford, Connecticut, who was found in a body of water in a park. Then, Liz talks about the brutal murder of 16-year-old Sidney Krow Jr., who was shot in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 26th, 2016. His case also remains unsolved. Anyone with any information on the murder of Christine Tortoro is asked to please call the Connect Unsolved Crimes Task Force at1-866-623-8058 or send an email to [email protected]. If you or anyone you know has any information on the murder of Sidney Krow Jr., please contact the Worcester Police Department at 508) 799-8466.

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, Katie and Liz discuss the heart-wrenching case of 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy. In February of 2018, Marissa was found dead in her Stockton Springs, Maine home after it was discovered that she had been horribly abused for months. Following her death, DHHS reports became available and it was clear that many attempts had been made by teachers, healthcare providers and neighbors for the little girl to get help, but she was failed every time. Tune in to hear the crushing details of the last few months of Marissa’s life and the devastating result of abuse at the hands of her parents.

It’s the 98th installment in True Crime New England’s case profile mini-episode series, and this week, the girls each share double the stories! First, Liz starts the episode off by discussing the recently solved double homicide of Alfreda Youmans and Jeffrey Dotson in New Haven, Connecticut in 2021. Then, Katie tells the story of the disappearance of 23-year-old MarkLenny Candelario out of New Haven, Vermont in 2011. Katie then tells an additional horrible story; the unsolved murder of Edward Johnson, found shot to death in a porta-potty in Windham, Massachusetts in 2022.If you or anyone you know has any information on the disappearance of MarkLenny Candelario, please call the Vermont State Police at 802-244-8781. If you or anyone you know has any information on the murder of Edward Johnson, please contact the Windham Police Department at 603-434-5577.

Join Katie and Liz on this week’s episode of True Crime New England as they touch upon a delicate subject of the coercion into suicide of 18-year-old Conrad Roy. In July of 2014, the depressed teenager killed himself by way of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in his truck. Even after it was deemed a suicide, investigators came upon some very damning and suggestive texts from his 17-year-old girlfriend, Michelle Carter. Tune in to hear the details of the nature of their relationship, their mental health struggles, and the ultimate trial to place some blame on the teenage girl.

Just another Sunday with another case profile mini-episode from True Crime New England! This week, Katie goes first to tell the insanely horrific and recently solved case of the Chelsea Jane Doe. In November of 2000, the town of Chelsea, Massachusetts, was shocked when a dissected, headless corpse was found in a parking lot- her identity would remain unknown for 26 years. Then, Liz talks about the unfortunate death of 19-year-old Ricardo Rivera who was shot to death in October of 2015 in Hartford, Connecticut. Anyone with information on the murder of Ricardo Rivera is asked to please contact the Hartford police Major Crimes Division Lt. Paul Cicero at 860-757-4179 or the anonymous tips line at 860-722-8477. 

On this week’s episode of True Crime New England, join Katie and Liz as they discuss the horrible crime of Tyree Smith, a Bridgeport, Connecticut man who dealt with mental illness all of his adult life. In December of 2011, Tyree killed Angel Gonzalez with an axe and cannibalized some of his body. Tyree would later be found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sentenced to 60 years in a psychiatric facility. However, in February of 2025, Tyree was granted conditional release and has since been released after serving only 12 years of his sentence.

Welcome to another Sunday and another installment of True Crime New England’s case profile mini-episode series! This week, Katie and Liz discuss two unsolved cases that deserve answers. First, Liz talks about the simply heinous murder of 40-year-old Quinton Jones out of Haven, Connecticut in November of 2021. Then, Katie talks about the extremely troubling life of 26-year-old Virginia Sue Pictou-Noyes, who, after being assaulted by her husband, disappeared out of Easton, Maine in April of 1993. Both cases remain unsolved.Anyone with any information surrounding the murder of Quinton Jones is asked to please contact the New Haven Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 866-888-8477. If you or anyone you know has any information on the disappearance of Virginia Sue Pictou-Noyes, please call the Maine State Police at 207-532-2261.