Knife Freak

Knife Freak

From Murder In The Rain by Murder In The Rain

February 10, 2026 · 51 min · Season 1 · Episode 231

About this episode

This episode explores the tragic case of Shellie Szabo, a murdered teenager with a troubled past, and questions the justice served to her killer.

This episode started as an anthology. Three seemingly connected cases told together. Then I got into this case and realized, as usual, there was much more there than it seemed. Shellie Szabo was just a teenager when she was murdered. In her young years, she had been trafficked into sex work, had lost a child, and was struggling to get her life back on track. Her killer was caught, but was justice served? And did he learn his lesson? You probably already know the answers to those questions… Oregon Journal Nov 28 1978 Murdered prostitute "needed help" - The Daily Astorian Nov 29 1978- Prostitute's mother tells of death - East Oregonian May 14 1973 - Circuit Court - Shellie R. Szabo (1959-1978) - Find a Grave Memorial - Oregon Journal May 11 1979 Prostitute murder jury hears of night of terror - Been Verified- Dennis Dean Kersting - State v. Kersting :: 1981 :: Oregon Court of Appeals Decisions - Oregon Journal Nov 27 1978- Clues Hunted in Woman's Murder - Oregon Journal Dec 11 1978- Police Probe Death of Woman Found Nude in West Linn Park - State v. Kersting :: 1982 :: Oregon Supreme Court Decisions - The Oregonian Nov 27 1978- Stab-victim's body found near railyard - The Daily…

People in this episode

Host: Murder In The Rain

Topics covered

  • murder
  • sex trafficking
  • justice
  • Oregon
  • true crime
  • teenage victim

Keywords

  • Shellie Szabo
  • Dennis Dean Kersting
  • murder
  • Oregon
  • sex work
  • justice
  • true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oregon Journal, The Daily Astorian, East Oregonian, Find a Grave Memorial, Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Supreme Court, The Oregonian

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