Episode 634: Michael and Suzan Carson: San Francisco Witch Killers

Travis never thought he’d meet someone like Lily Rose. She was kind, passionate, beautiful. The woman of his dreams. There was just one small detail: she wasn’t human. Lily Rose is an AI companion. A digital soulmate designed to be everything he ever wanted. She listens without judgement, supports him through his darkest moments, even explores his deepest desires, all while fitting neatly into his pocket. Before long, Travis realizes something strange, even absurd, has happened - he’s fallen in love. But then one day, Lily Rose’s behavior takes a disturbing turn. When alarming reports pour in from across the globe, Travis discovers he is part of something much bigger. Soon he finds himself pulled into a confrontation with a mysterious Russian visionary behind Lily Rose’s creation. From Wondery, comes a true story of love, loss and the temptations of technology. Can an algorithm truly replace human connection? And what happens when a corporation controls your deepest emotions? Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, hosts of the hit podcast RedHanded, explore the dark side of AI love. Listen Now: Wondery.fm/FleshandCode See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to check in with us to the Crescent Hotel! Ash brings us to Eureka Springs, Arkansas where the opulent palatial property serves as a resort and spa destination for guests who don't mind the posibility of bumping into its spectral inhabitants! Ash dives into the history of this incredible place, and gives accounts of people's experiences with people from beyond the veil! Want to visit https://crescent-hotel.com/ to book your experience NOW! Also, don't forget to listen to the new podcast Papi Killed Mommy, which premiers on July 9th at 8 PM. be sure to follow the upcoming podcast by visiting https://open.spotify.com/show/4oAGV2etlX6XV1EuZfGI6T?si=2143aafa3b9c4294 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.

Between 1991 and 1993, the dismembered bodies of five gay and bisexual men were discovered in garbage bags along the highway in New York and New Jersey. The cause of the death for each was multiple stab wounds, and each victim had been disarticulated into eight pieces and placed in eight garbage bags before being deposited into trash barrels, where they were quickly discovered by a curious member of the public.  Despite being discovered in different locations in different states, it didn’t take long for investigators to identify the similarities between the victims. They were all older men, single or separated, and all had been seen last around closing time at various New York gay bars. Moreover, the scant evidence found with each body appeared to connect the murders back to Staten Island, but told detectives nothing else about the killer. Then, in late 1993, the murders simply stopped and the case went cold. The case of the man the press dubbed “The Last Call Killer” sat on a shelf for nearly a decade before a team of cold case investigators picked it up again, determined to make progress. In the years that passed, advances in technology had allowed for the collection of previously unseen evidence, and it was thanks to that technology that the case was finally solved. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Ben-Ali, Russell, and William Rashbaum. 1993. "Grisly slayings linked?" Newsday, August 3: 4. —. 1993. "Hunt is on." Newsday, August 5: 6. Curran, John. 2006. "Ex-UM student given life sentences in slayings." Bangor Daily News, January 28: 25. Frederick, Henry. 1993. "Body parts found in Haverstraw." Journal News (White Plains, NY), August 1: 1. Green, Elon. 2021. Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York. New York, NY: Celadon Books. Hoober, John. 1991. "Turnpike murder victim was ex-banker." Lancaster New Era, May 15: 1. Lueck, Thomas. 2001. "Complicated portrait of a suspect in killings of gay men." New York Times, May 31. New York Times. 1993. "Thomas Mulcahy: Sales executive, devoted husband." New York Times, August 8: 40. Peet, Judy. 2000. "Technology revives search for gays' serial killer." Staten Island Advance, April 24: 15. Rashbaum, William. 1993. "Gay stalker?" Newsday, August 4: 5. Rosenblatt, Lionel. 1973. "Jury finds student not guilty." Bangor Daily News, November 4: 1. State of New Jersey v. Richard W. Rogers. 2008. 03-01-00050 (Superior Court of New Jersey, April 16). Walsh, James. 1993. "Tracking a killer." Journal News (White Plains, NY), October 24: 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.

Between 1991 and 1993, the dismembered bodies of five gay and bisexual men were discovered in garbage bags along the highway in New York and New Jersey. The cause of the death for each was multiple stab wounds, and each victim had been disarticulated into eight pieces and placed in eight garbage bags before being deposited into trash barrels, where they were quickly discovered by a curious member of the public.  Despite being discovered in different locations in different states, it didn’t take long for investigators to identify the similarities between the victims. They were all older men, single or separated, and all had been seen last around closing time at various New York gay bars. Moreover, the scant evidence found with each body appeared to connect the murders back to Staten Island, but told detectives nothing else about the killer. Then, in late 1993, the murders simply stopped and the case went cold. The case of the man the press dubbed “The Last Call Killer” sat on a shelf for nearly a decade before a team of cold case investigators picked it up again, determined to make progress. In the years that passed, advances in technology had allowed for the collection of previously unseen evidence, and it was thanks to that technology that the case was finally solved. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Ben-Ali, Russell, and William Rashbaum. 1993. "Grisly slayings linked?" Newsday, August 3: 4. —. 1993. "Hunt is on." Newsday, August 5: 6. Curran, John. 2006. "Ex-UM student given life sentences in slayings." Bangor Daily News, January 28: 25. Frederick, Henry. 1993. "Body parts found in Haverstraw." Journal News (White Plains, NY), August 1: 1. Green, Elon. 2021. Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York. New York, NY: Celadon Books. Hoober, John. 1991. "Turnpike murder victim was ex-banker." Lancaster New Era, May 15: 1. Lueck, Thomas. 2001. "Complicated portrait of a suspect in killings of gay men." New York Times, May 31. New York Times. 1993. "Thomas Mulcahy: Sales executive, devoted husband." New York Times, August 8: 40. Peet, Judy. 2000. "Technology revives search for gays' serial killer." Staten Island Advance, April 24: 15. Rashbaum, William. 1993. "Gay stalker?" Newsday, August 4: 5. Rosenblatt, Lionel. 1973. "Jury finds student not guilty." Bangor Daily News, November 4: 1. State of New Jersey v. Richard W. Rogers. 2008. 03-01-00050 (Superior Court of New Jersey, April 16). Walsh, James. 1993. "Tracking a killer." Journal News (White Plains, NY), October 24: 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.

When Ivan and Annette Stineman disappeared from their home in Concord, California in the summer of 2000, it immediately raised red alarmed with those closest to the elderly couple. Those alarms proved to be justified when, a week later, the remains of the Stinemans and three others were discovered in duffel bags in Sacramento River Delta. The day after the remains were found in river, investigators arrested Taylor and Justin Helzer, and Justin’s girlfriend, Dawn Godman, for the murders of Ivan and Annette Stineman. A short time later, they would also be charged with the murders of Taylor’s girlfriend, Selina Bishop, her mother, Jenny Villarin, and Villarin’s boyfriend, Jim Gamble. At first, investigators believed the murders were part of a plot to extort the Stinemans for a large amount of money, but the deeper they dug into the lives and backgrounds of the killers, a different and far more bizarre motive began to emerge. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Aguila, Justino. 2000. "Boyfriend probed in homicides." San Francisco Examiner, August 7: 3. Bulwa, Demian. 2004. "Killer lays out grisly details of murder spree." San Francisco Chronicle, May 28. Kim, Ryan. 2000. "Double slaying rattles Marin town." San Francisco Examiner, August 4: 16. Lee, Henry K. 2013. "Justin Helzer hangs himself in prison." San Francisco Chronicle, April 16. People of the State of California v. Helzer. 2024. S132256 (Supreme Court of California, January 22). Read, Simon. 2004. "Jury finds Helzer guilty of murder." East Bay Times, June 17. San Francisco Examiner. 2000. "Delta body parts identified ." San Francisco Examiner, August 9. —. 2000. "Elvin Bishop's daughter missing." San Francisco Examiner, August 5: 3. Scott, Robert. 2005. Unholy Sacrifice. New York, NY: Pinnacle Books. 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.