Based on a True Story: 4

About this episode

The episode explores the connection between Ruthie Mae McCoy's murder and the film Candyman, revealing insights from director Bernard Rose's experiences.

While the suspects for Ruthie Mae McCoy's murder wait in jail, a British director is on the hunt for his next film. Host Dometi Pongo finds out how a murder similar to McCoy's ended up in Bernard Rose's 1992 Candyman and discovers just how many details stem from a fateful trip the director took to the Chicago projects. Get early, ad-free access to episodes of Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder by subscribing to 48 Hours+ on Apple Podcasts or Wondery+ on the Wondery app. Subscribe to 48 Hours+: https://apple.co/4aEgENo Subscribe to Wondery+: https://wondery.com/plus/

People in this episode

Host: Dometi Pongo

Topics covered

• murder
• film
• true crime
• Chicago
• documentary

Keywords

• Ruthie Mae McCoy
• Bernard Rose
• Candyman
• murder
• Chicago projects

Sponsors

48 Hours+, Wondery+

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CBS News

Books & works: Candyman

More episodes of Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder

• D4vd Charged with Murder | Case by Case · April 25, 2026 · 4 min
• Ruthie Mae's Reflection: 6 · November 7, 2024 · 27 min
• The Wavering Witness: 5 · October 31, 2024 · 31 min
• The Suspects Next Door: 3 · October 17, 2024 · 33 min
• Deadly Design: 2 · October 10, 2024 · 31 min
• Left High and Dry: 1 · October 3, 2024 · 33 min