The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told

In this episode, we examine the story of Sarah Cornell, a young Methodist textile worker who was the inspiration for Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The difference, of course, is that Hester Prynne wasn’t murdered. And she certainly didn’t kill herself. • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Order Mary Kay's true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out Kate Winkler Dawson's book The Sinners All Bow at Penguin Random HouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, a woman comes back from the dead to solve her own murder, something beyond the realm of what most people consider possible. And yet, the story of Teresita Basa was credible enough to appear in a U.S. court of law, come before a judge and jury, and send a man to jail for murder.  • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Zoe Louisa LewisDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here SOURCES  General https://books.google.ca/books?id=CM4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=allan%2Bshowery%2Bjob%2Bedgewater&source=bl&ots=dS98q23rpz&sig=ACfU3U3EjQ7VZNBaUSThOMZEh_O0gVvLGQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisuLnG-b72AhUGa80KHd84DwYQ6AF6BAg0EAM#v=onepage&q=allan%20showery%20job%20edgewater&f=false https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/09/17/voice-from-the-grave-evokes-a-murder-trial/13b6d805-2413-4015-b70a-b9b28ab5d40d/ https://jimharold.com/the-strange-and-sad-case-of-teresita-basa-by-em-hilker/ Chuas Obituary  https://legacy.suntimes.com/us/obituaries/chicagosuntimes/name/jose-chua-obituary?id=30203 Possession in the Philippines https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/central-luzon-state-university/psychological-assessment/understanding-spirit-possession-in-the-philippines/67778613 https://www.aswangproject.com/spirit-possession-sapi-in-the-philippines/#google_vignette https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Philippine%20Journal%20of%20Psychology/2004/Num%202/05_Dissociative%20Symptoms%20in%20Filipino%20College%20Students.pdf https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-10-17-classes-cancelled-at-high-school-in-philippines-following-mass-possession/ https://www.newsflare.com/video/520014/seven-students-exorcised-after-being-possessed-by-evil-spirits-in-the-philippines Edgewater Hospital https://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/local/rise-and-fall-of-edgewater-hospitalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at the story of an ordinary suburban mom, Diane Schuler, who did something extraordinarily terrible. And how the people who were left to pick up the pieces found themselves asking the same question over and over again, why?   • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out Jackie Hance's book on Diane Schuler: 'I'll See You Again' at Simon and Schuster SOURCES  Transcript for the HBO Doc https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/se/date/2013-05-25/segment/03   Taconic State Parkway https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-york/deadliest-road-ny/ https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/nyregion/18taconic.html Police Report https://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/policereport/schuler,%20diane_police_report.pdf Pre Autopsy News Stories https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/nyregion/31funeral.html Post Autopsy Stories https://nymag.com/news/features/62043/ https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/nyregion/07taconic.html https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/nyregion/08bigcity.html https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/nyregion/06crash.html https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/nyregion/07crash.html https://www.comingsoon.net/documentaries/news/1721259-theres-something-wrong-with-aunt-diane-did-anyone-survive-taconic-parkway-crash https://nypost.com/2009/08/06/wed-woes-drove-crash-ma-to-drink/ Lawsuits https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/nyregion/11taconic.html?searchResultPosition=5 https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/settlements-reached-in-4-taconic-parkway-wrong-way-crash-lawsuits/ https://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/jackie-hance-lost-daughters-taconic-crash-sues-daniel-schuler/story?id=14169392 https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/report-widower-sues-state-after-tragic-wrong-way-crash-on-taconic-parkway/ https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/husband-of-taconic-driver-sues-state-in-law/1924357/ TIA https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/tia-transient-ischemic-attack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at the sprawling career and casework of Gloria Allred. She’s an icon who’s been involved in so many major legal cases, OJ, Bill Cosby, the fight for gay marriage, priest abuse cases and AIDS discrimination. She’s seen it all. She’s been practicing law for nearly fifty years, and in that time she’s been a hero, a villain, and everything in between.  • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here   SOURCES  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-04-24-me-1698-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-05-me-463-story.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12970625/Distraught-sister-latest-Rex-Heuermann-victim-weeps-outside-court-says-losing-Maureen-wound-never-truly-heals-Long-Island-serial-killer-pleads-not-guilty.html East LA Walkouts https://guides.loc.gov/latinx-civil-rights/east-la-walkouts Girls Schools https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1020228613796 https://www.heri.ucla.edu/PDFs/pubs/briefs/SAX_031909_brief.pdf William Allred https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/8905092/ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-20-mn-14752-story.html https://www.gloriaallred.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1200518/2021/01/Gloria-Allred-Article-Los-Angeles-Magazine.pdf https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-26-me-2875-story.html Rape https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.4679070 Rita Milla https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/11_12/2007_12_05_Green_ShatteredFaith.htm https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/04/03/forgotten-in-the-flock/ https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-gloria-allred-20151113-story.html https://archive.org/details/goodcatholicgirl00bona/page/60/mode/1up?q=%22rita+milla%22 General https://www.gloriaallred.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1200518/2021/01/Gloria-Allred-Article-Los-Angeles-Magazine.pdf https://www.kveller.com/16-things-you-need-to-know-about-badass-jewish-lawyer-gloria-allred/ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a539/gloria-allred-0610/ https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/02/gloria-allreds-crusade https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/almID/1202473867559/ Harvey Wienstein https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/books/harvey-weinstein-book-kantor-twohey.html?smid=pc-thedaily https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/podcasts/the-daily/harvey-weinstein-lisa-bloom.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/podcasts/the-daily/harvey-weinstein-gloria-allred.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second of three parts, we look the troubled life of Susie Newsom Lynch. A story steeped in paranoia and deceit, it has everything you need from a southern gothic tale. • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out "Bitter Blood" by Jerry Bledsoe hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second of two parts, we look at the fallout of Coco Chanel's relations with Nazis during their rule over Paris in WW2.   • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram  • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out more on 'Devil's Rooming House' by Hal Vaughn at Penguin Random House SOURCES  Albanesi, Melanie. “Coco Chanel: Fashion Designer, Nazi Informant.” PBS. January 3, 2022. Pinnock, Olivia. “Do Coco Chanel’s Nazi Connections Matter For Fashion Today?” Forbes. James, Caryn. “The truth about Coco Chanel and the Nazis.” BBC. 2024. Mah, Ann. “This Picture Tells a Tragic Story of What Happened to Women After D-Day.” Time. June 6, 2018. Mazzeo, Tilar J. The Secret of Chanel No. 5. Harper. Nov 9, 2010. McAuley, James. “The Exchange: Coco Chanel and the Nazi Party.” The New Yorker. August 31, 2011. Paton, Elizabeth. “Chanel Publishes Annual Results for First Time in 108 Years.” The New York Times. June 21, 2018.  Vaughan, Hal. Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War. Vintage. 2011. Wars of Coco Chanel documentary. Becoming Chanel documentary. Thomas, Dana. “The Power Behind the Cologne.” The New York Times Magazine. Feb 24, 2002. Villani, Anna. “WHO OWNS CHANEL? The Wertheimer family. But, who are they?” The Vintage Bar. Jan 7, 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode, we look into the mysterious lore behind Shakespeare's 'Weyward Sisters" from Macbeth. Did you know those three women, the weird sisters, the three witches who prophesied Macbeth’s ascendance… did you know those women really existed? • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out 'Sleeping With the Enemy' by William Phillips hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at the story of a Family Business, the Lamb Family Funeral Home… which wanted to be a booming business so badly that they allegedly circumvented a lot of laws, and even more ethics, for their profits.  • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out Ken Englade's "A Family Business" at Diversion Books for a deeper dive on today's subjectSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one of two, we take a look at the story of a woman who wanted into east coast high society… and got there. Cassie Chadwick went by many names to cover her tracks, but ended up pulling one of the greatest cons in American history, securing her legacy alongside the upper-class she so coveted. • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' here Check out Annie Reed's book, 'The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age' at Diversion Books for a deeper look at Cassie Chadwick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we examine the lesser told story of Agatha Christie: that of her sudden disappearance. The beloved crime fiction writer, whose works are still being adapted, starred in her own real-live mystery, a true story of love, loss, and betrayal.  • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Order Lucy Worsley's biography 'Agatha Christie, An Elusive Woman' at Pegasus Books Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is part one of a two-part series on Sarah Jane Moore, the unlikely woman who wanted to kill the president, and the bizarre life she led…which the headlines never got quite right.  The Greatest True Crime Stories is a production of Diversion Audio. • Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Order 'Housewife Assassin: The Woman Who Tried To Kill The President' by Geri Spieler at Diversion Books Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of Linda Taylor, a woman who seized every opportunity to commit fraud and a whole host of other crimes… and no, that’s not her real name. The Greatest True Crime Stories is a production of Diversion Audio.• Follow Diversion Audio on Instagram • Explore more: diversionaudio.com This series is hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer. Check out more of her work at www.marykaymcbrayer.com.This episode was written by Mary Kay McBrayerDeveloped by Scott Waxman, Emma DeMuth, and Jacob Bronstein Associate Producer is Leo CulpProduced by Antonio EnriquezTheme Music by Tyler CashExecutive Produced by Scott Waxman and Emma DeMuth Special thanks to:Carter, Stephen L.. Invisible. Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.  Order John Levin's 'The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth' here, and listen to his four-part podcast on Linda Taylor here  Pre-order Mary Kay's forthcoming true crime book 'Madame Queen: The The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair' hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.