Episode 592: Nellie May Madison: California’s First Woman on Death Row

In early December 1976, a film crew was shooting an episode of a popular television show at The Pike, a boardwalk amusement park in Long Beach, California. In order to prepare for the scene, the prop master moved what he believed to be a wax mannequin hanging from funhouse gallows; however, when he grabbed the mannequin by the arm, the limb broke off, revealing human bone and muscle tissue. After removing the body to the coroner’s office to be autopsied, it was revealed that what had long thought to have been a wax museum dummy was in fact the body of a man who’d died from a gunshot wound more than six decades before his body was discovered in Long Beach. After some basic detective work, investigators learned that the mummified corpse was that of Elmer McCurdy, an early twentieth-century bank robber who was shot and killed by a sheriff’s posse in Oklahoma in 1911. Removing the body from the funhouse and identifying the body allowed authorities to arrange for a proper burial, but it did little to answer the question on the minds of so many: How did the mummified body of a long-dead outlaw end up on display in a wax museum funhouse? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Cohen, Jerry. 1976. "Mummy identified as bandit slain in 1911." Los Angeles Times, December 11: 1. Harvey, Steve. 1979. "Bungler Elmer McCurdy... RIP... gets more attention in death than in life." Los Angeles Times, December 31: 21. Himmel, Nieson. 1976. "'Dummy' found to be a corpse." Los Angeles Times, December 9: 3. Los Angeles Times. 1976. "Mummy was Oklahoma bandit killed in 1912." Los Angeles Times, December 10: 8. Reuters. 1977. "'Wax model' identified as Oklahoma bandit." New York Times, April 15: 14. Smith, Robert Barr. 1999. "Western Lore." Wild West.  Svenvold, Mark. 2002. Elmer McCurdy: The Misadventures in Life and Afterlife of an American Outlaw. New York, NY: Harper. Stay in the know - wondery.fm/morbid-wondery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the afternoon of June 19, 1994, thirteen-year-old Nicholas Barclay left his home in San Antonio, Texas to play basketball with some friends. Hours later, he called home to ask his mother for a ride, but was told he would have to walk home, but Nicholas never came back. His mother reported him missing and an investigation was started, but it quickly stalled when there was no evidence of what happened to Nicholas. Three years passed and one day, out of the blue, the family received a call from the US Embassy. Nicholas had been discovered in Spain, they said. He had endured terrible trauma at the hands of a human trafficking ring and he was desperate to come home. The family was elated and eagerly welcomed Nicholas back into their home. But to some of the people involved in the boy’s return to Texas, there were just too many things about his story that didn’t quite add up. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1998. "Fugitive poses as teenager." Orange Leader (Orange, TX), September 12: 5. Davies, Nick. 1998. "The Lost boy." The Guardian, October 17. Flynn, Sheila. 2023. A French serial imposter convinced everyone he was a missing Texas teen. This PI convinced him to confess. January 27. Accessed May 24, 2025. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/imposter-netflix-frederic-bourdin-nicholas-barclay-b2269897.html. Grann, David. 2008. "The Chaemeleon." New Yorker, August 8. 2012. The Imposter. Directed by Bart Layton. Performed by Bart Layton. Stay in the know - wondery.fm/morbid-wondery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the fall of 1940, an employ of the Consolidated Edison Company in Manhattan discovered a bomb in the company’s main offices, along with a note that read “Con Edison crooks – this is for you.” The bomb was discovered before it detonated and no one was harmed, but a year later the company received a second bomb, followed by a note to NYPD in which the bomber announced he would make no bombs for the duration of WWII, but would begin again as the war ended. As promised, a new series of bombings began across New York in the winter of 1951, beginning with an explosion at Grand Central Station. In the five years that followed, “The Mad Bomber,” as he would come to be known, would place explosives at some of New York’s most iconic locations including Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, and the New York Public Library. The bombs were often followed by cryptic letters sent to the press, usually referencing the Consolidated Edison Company. Th Mad Bomber’s reign of terror finally came to an end with his capture in 1957, and neither the suspect nor his motives made much sense to the New Yorkers who’d lived in fear for five years. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1955. "The 'Mad Bomber' threatens Macy's." Buffalo News, May 5: 47. —. 1957. "'Bomber' sick but innocent, sisters say." Newsday, Janaury 22: 3. Baird, John, and Harry Schlegal. 1956. "Mad Bomber blast in B'klyn movie; 6 hurt." Daily News, December 3: 2. Berger, Meyer. 1957. "Bomber is booked; sent to Bellevue for mental tests." New York Times, January 23: 1. Demeusy, Gerald. 1981. "'Bomber' says life all broken dreams." Hartford Courant, November 16: 15. Greenburg, Michael M. 2011. The Mad Bomber of New York: The Extraordinary True Story of the Manhunt That Paralyzed a City. New York, NY: Union Square Press. Kaufman, Michael. 1973. "'Mad Bomber,' now 70, goes free." New York Times, December 13: 1. New York Times. 1957. "2d 'Bomber' note cites old injury." New York Times, January 16: 25. —. 1953. "A homemade bomb rips station locker." New York Times, May 7: 28. —. 1951. "Bomb blast in terminal: Homemade device explodes in Grand Central--no one is hurt." New York Times, March 30: 24. —. 1954. "Bomb in music hall injures 4 in crowd." New York Times, November 8: 1. —. 1951. "Bomb laid to prankster." New York Times, September 13: 33. —. 1957. "'Bomber' ordered to state hospital." New York Times, April 19: 44. —. 1957. "'Bomber' presses threat on utility." New York Times, January 11: 16. —. 1951. "Ex-Edison worker held in bomb case." New York Times, November 7: 32. —. 1966. "'Mad Bomber' to get hearing on sanity." New York Times, April 29: 17. —. 1957. "Metesky indicted on bomb charges." New York Times, January 31: 29. —. 1955. "Penn Station bomb blast is ignored by commuters." New York Times, Janaury 12: 11. —. 1951. "Police find bomb in Paramount Lounge; note spurs search for one at Penn Station." New York Times, October 23: 30. —. 1957. "Suspect is held as 'Mad Bomber'; he admits role." New York Times, January 22: 1. —. 1956. "The Mad Bomber." New York Times, December 30: B2. O'Kane, Lawrence. 1955. "Bomb left in Roxy; linked to 22 others." New York Times, August 12: 1. Parke, Richard. 1957. "Sisters shocked, loyal to brother." New York Times, January 23: 20. Sheridan, Mike. 1977. "Former Mad Bomber now a homebody." Hartford Courant, May 1: 22. Stay in the know - wondery.fm/morbid-wondery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the fall of 1940, an employ of the Consolidated Edison Company in Manhattan discovered a bomb in the company’s main offices, along with a note that read “Con Edison crooks – this is for you.” The bomb was discovered before it detonated and no one was harmed, but a year later the company received a second bomb, followed by a note to NYPD in which the bomber announced he would make no bombs for the duration of WWII, but would begin again as the war ended. As promised, a new series of bombings began across New York in the winter of 1951, beginning with an explosion at Grand Central Station. In the five years that followed, “The Mad Bomber,” as he would come to be known, would place explosives at some of New York’s most iconic locations including Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, and the New York Public Library. The bombs were often followed by cryptic letters sent to the press, usually referencing the Consolidated Edison Company. Th Mad Bomber’s reign of terror finally came to an end with his capture in 1957, and neither the suspect nor his motives made much sense to the New Yorkers who’d lived in fear for five years. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1955. "The 'Mad Bomber' threatens Macy's." Buffalo News, May 5: 47. —. 1957. "'Bomber' sick but innocent, sisters say." Newsday, Janaury 22: 3. Baird, John, and Harry Schlegal. 1956. "Mad Bomber blast in B'klyn movie; 6 hurt." Daily News, December 3: 2. Berger, Meyer. 1957. "Bomber is booked; sent to Bellevue for mental tests." New York Times, January 23: 1. Demeusy, Gerald. 1981. "'Bomber' says life all broken dreams." Hartford Courant, November 16: 15. Greenburg, Michael M. 2011. The Mad Bomber of New York: The Extraordinary True Story of the Manhunt That Paralyzed a City. New York, NY: Union Square Press. Kaufman, Michael. 1973. "'Mad Bomber,' now 70, goes free." New York Times, December 13: 1. New York Times. 1957. "2d 'Bomber' note cites old injury." New York Times, January 16: 25. —. 1953. "A homemade bomb rips station locker." New York Times, May 7: 28. —. 1951. "Bomb blast in terminal: Homemade device explodes in Grand Central--no one is hurt." New York Times, March 30: 24. —. 1954. "Bomb in music hall injures 4 in crowd." New York Times, November 8: 1. —. 1951. "Bomb laid to prankster." New York Times, September 13: 33. —. 1957. "'Bomber' ordered to state hospital." New York Times, April 19: 44. —. 1957. "'Bomber' presses threat on utility." New York Times, January 11: 16. —. 1951. "Ex-Edison worker held in bomb case." New York Times, November 7: 32. —. 1966. "'Mad Bomber' to get hearing on sanity." New York Times, April 29: 17. —. 1957. "Metesky indicted on bomb charges." New York Times, January 31: 29. —. 1955. "Penn Station bomb blast is ignored by commuters." New York Times, Janaury 12: 11. —. 1951. "Police find bomb in Paramount Lounge; note spurs search for one at Penn Station." New York Times, October 23: 30. —. 1957. "Suspect is held as 'Mad Bomber'; he admits role." New York Times, January 22: 1. —. 1956. "The Mad Bomber." New York Times, December 30: B2. O'Kane, Lawrence. 1955. "Bomb left in Roxy; linked to 22 others." New York Times, August 12: 1. Parke, Richard. 1957. "Sisters shocked, loyal to brother." New York Times, January 23: 20. Sheridan, Mike. 1977. "Former Mad Bomber now a homebody." Hartford Courant, May 1: 22. Stay in the know - wondery.fm/morbid-wondery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the evening of May 10, 1988, a passing driver on Howard Street in Brockton, MA, stopped to investigate something unusual on the side of the road. When the driver got closer to what they thought was a bag, they realized it was actually the body of twenty-four-year-old Anthony LoConte, bleeding badly from injuries to his face and head. Initially, investigators believed LoConte was the victim of a hit-and-run accident; however, when the coroner examined the body, he discovered a bullet hole in the back of LoConte’s head, indicating that he’d been murdered. It took twelve years for investigators to track down LoConte’s killer, but in the winter of 2000, California Highway Patrol arrested Robert Morganti on drug charges and a quick background check connected them to a 1988 warrant for Morganti for the murder of Anthony LoConte.  Robert Morganti was extradited back to Massachusetts, where he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for LoConte’s murder. However, due to a controversial 2024 law concerning life sentences for young offenders, Robert Morganti could be granted parole in the near future. Consider signing the petition by visiting https://www.change.org/p/help-uncle-tony-uphold-mandatory-life-sentences-in-massachusetts-bill-s942 . Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Boston Globe. 1988. "Police believe drugs are linked to slaying of Brockton man." Boston Globe, May 12: 35. Boyle, Maureen. 2000. "Murder suspect caught in Calif." The Enterprise (Brockton, MA), March 21: 1. Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Robert J. Morganti. 2009. SJC-09830 (Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Plymouth, November 25). Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Robert J. Morganti. 2014. SJC-11281 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, February 12). Peterson, Dave. 2000. "Murder suspect's long flght ends in Modesto." Modesto Bee, March 21: 1. Stern, Amelia. 2025. 'No remorse': Taunton woman devastated by ruling that could free her brother's killer. April 25. Accessed May 04, 2025. https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/courts/2025/04/25/taunton-ma-brockton-anthony-loconte-murder-victim-sjc-robert-morganti-parole/83271252007/. Stay in the know - wondery.fm/morbid-wondery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.