show episodes
 
Crime is so commonplace that it takes something particularly shocking to be labelled the “crime of the century.” Even so, there are a lot of cases that have earned the distinction. In each episode of Crimes of the Centuries, award-winning journalist Amber Hunt will examine a case that’s lesser known today but was huge when it happened. The cases explored span the centuries and each left a mark. Some made history by changing laws. Others were so shocking they changed society.
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In this gripping episode, we dive into the thrilling world of Cold War espionage to uncover the secrets of Operation Pimlico, one of the most audacious rescue missions in intelligence history. Join us as we explore the remarkable story of Oleg Gordievsky, the high-ranking KGB officer who risked everything to defect to the West, and the MI6 operativ…
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This week on Cold Case Friday, we delve into the mysterious disappearance of Cassandra Hailey and Richard Keith Call, two college students who vanished without a trace on the night of April 9, 1988. What began as a routine night out turned into an unsolved mystery that has haunted their families and investigators for decades. We’ll explore the deta…
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In this gripping episode, we explore the shocking 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, one of the most pivotal moments in modern history. We take you through the details of that fateful day in St. Peter's Square, where Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca fired multiple shots at the Pope, leaving the world in disbelief. We delve into the back…
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Introducing a NEW investigation from the BBC’s World of Secrets podcast: The Apartheid Killer. All the victims were black and the youngest was just 12 years old. Some relatives are still searching for the graves. They were killed during a three-year bloodbath in the 1980s, in the South African city of East London – by one person. He killed so many,…
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On this episode of Murder Monday, we delve into the heartbreaking and tragic story of Colleen Ritzer, a dedicated and beloved math teacher whose life was tragically cut short by one of her own students, Philip Chism. Explore the chilling details of the crime, the intense legal battle that followed, and the lasting impact on the community and those …
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When several men dressed as cops entered the Isabella Gardner Museum in March of 1990, the nighttime security detail didn't think much of it -- until one of the "officers" handcuffed the guards' wrists and announced, "This is a robbery." Thirty-four years later, theories abound about who was behind the largest -- and most mystifying -- art heist in…
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In this gripping episode, we delve into the tragic story of 15-year-old Debbie Grabher, who vanished on January 16, 1992. The following day, her lifeless body was discovered, tightly bound and wrapped in blankets, abandoned in a snowy lot in Salt Lake City, Utah. The shocking murder of this young girl has left a community searching for answers for …
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In this gripping episode, we delve into the haunting case of Kenia Monge, a vibrant young woman whose night out with friends turned into a tragic nightmare. When Kenia disappeared in April 2011, the search for answers would uncover chilling details about a predator hiding in plain sight. Join us as we explore how Travis Forbes, a seemingly ordinary…
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In 1932, hundreds of men in Tuskegee, Alabama, signed up for something they'd never had much access to: healthcare. The best part? It was free. Told for decades they were being treated for "bad blood," the participants were never informed they had tested positive for syphilis and were being studied by the US government to see how the disease progre…
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In this episode, we delve into one of the most significant and controversial military operations in U.S. history: Operation Just Cause. Join us as we explore the complex events surrounding the 1989 invasion of Panama, where 27,000 U.S. troops were deployed to overthrow the regime of Manuel Noriega. SPONSORS Hulu: https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bi…
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After Munich, Germany, was named the host of the 1972 Olympic Games, organizers were determined to highlight the country's softer side after the horrors of World War II. This was, after all, the first Olympics to be held in Germany since 1936's Berlin Games, during which Hitler used the festivities to spread propaganda and Nazi ideology. Unfortunat…
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In this gripping episode, we delve deep into the dark and twisted world of Danny Rolling, the notorious Gainesville Ripper. Join us as we explore the life and crimes of one of America's most infamous serial killers, whose brutal murder spree left a trail of terror and heartbreak in Gainesville, Florida. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Dwelling Dragons & Launc…
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When a handyman from Mobile, Alabama, was accused of stealing $1.95 from a woman who employed him in 1957, no one could have guessed the fervor it would cause, not just nationally but overseas. Jimmy Wilson was sentenced to death for the theft in a case that threatened America's reputation on a global scale. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast f…
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Join us as we delve into one of the most chilling and perplexing mysteries in true crime history—the Ice Box Murders of Houston. On June 23, 1965, the dismembered bodies of Fred and Edwina Rogers were discovered neatly wrapped and stored in their refrigerator, shocking the local community and leaving investigators baffled. In this episode, we explo…
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Soon after London bade farewell to 1885 and welcomed the new year, a woman named Adelaide Bartlett roused her sleeping house with screams. Her husband, Edwin, who had seemed to have turned a corner on his recent illness, was dead. Housemates who arrived in a panic immediately noticed a chemical smell in the room that suggested Edwin hadn't died of …
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Today, we delve into one of the most harrowing and tragic stories in modern history: the torture and murder of Junko Furuta. This video answers pressing questions about who Junko Furuta was, what happened to her, who was responsible for her murder, and why she was tortured and murdered. Join us as we uncover the chilling details of her tragic fate …
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Join us as we delve deep into the mysterious and unsolved deaths of Casey MacPherson-Pomeroy and Caleb Guillory. In this gripping true crime investigation, we explore the lives of these two adventurous friends, the tragic night that changed everything, and the relentless quest for justice led by their families and supporters. SPONSORS Paramount+ : …
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Hey, Crimes of the Centuries listeners! COTC is dark for the next two weeks, but as a special bonus, here is another episode of The Catalyst, a true-crime podcast that publishes every other Friday exclusively to patreon.com/grabbagcollab. U.S. Air Force, Stalking, and Camping Trips. This is the story of The Boy Scout. Dive deep into the upbringing …
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On this week's episode we delve into the shadowy world of Operation Wrath of God, Israel's covert response to the 1972 Munich Massacre. This gripping tale of espionage and retribution takes us across continents as we explore the ethical and legal challenges of one of the most controversial counterterrorism operations in history. Join us as we discu…
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In the 1970s, an aerospace firm in Redondo Beach, California, had the clever idea of handing over access to highly classified spy satellite secrets to a 20-something named Christopher Boyce. It didn't end well. Boyce and his high school buddy -- a drug dealer named Daulton Lee -- soon began selling that classified info to the Russians in a scheme t…
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This week we dive deep into the relentless pursuit that brought this monstrous predator to justice. With over 90 victims and four decades of terror, Samuel Little's capture is a story of dogged determination, cutting-edge forensics, and the ultimate showdown between good and evil. Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Skillshare: https:…
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After World War II stole a great many men from their loving wives, Lonely Hearts clubs were all the rage for lonely widows looking for love. A number of them thought they'd met their soul mates when they traded letters with a man calling himself Chris Martin who was so devoted to his family, he often had his sister in tow. In truth, those unsuspect…
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This week we delve into the tragic and transformative story of Vincent Chin, whose brutal murder in 1982 ignited a national outcry and spurred a pivotal movement for civil rights within the Asian American community. Join us as we journey back to Detroit, exploring the tense economic climate fueled by layoffs in the auto industry and rising anti-Asi…
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Randy Ayers was a 17-year-old high school senior when he was spotted at school and identified as the man who raped and tried to kill a 15-year-old girl in November 1981. It would take nine agonizing years -- and an unsolicited confession from a serial killer -- before Randy's case would change how prosecutors in Hamilton County, Ohio, treated eyewi…
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This week we dive deep into the chilling case of Mary Rogers, the "Beautiful Cigar Girl" whose mysterious murder captivated 19th-century New York City. Join us as we explore the life of Mary Rogers, her untimely disappearance, and the grisly discovery of her body in the Hudson River. We'll examine the various theories surrounding her death, from a …
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The 937 passengers aboard the M.S. St. Louis had every reason to be optimistic as they left Hamburg, Germany, on May 13, 1939. After years of their rights being slowly stripped away, the Jewish men, women and children felt lucky to be sailing off to start anew in Cuba. But once they spotted their destination, a new nightmare began. "Crimes of the C…
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When 26 California schoolchildren and their bus driver failed to show up after a swimming trip on the penultimate day of summer school, authorities launched a search that grew much more frantic after the school bus they'd been traveling in was discovered hidden in 20-foot-tall bamboo. What happened next shocked and befuddled the nation. "Crimes of …
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In 1898, a pair of killers stalked a worksite in the Tsavo region of Kenya. They evaded blockades and booby traps to torment hundreds of men who'd simply signed up to do a job but instead found themselves marked as prey for a seemingly unstoppable deadly duo. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes fro…
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In the 1960s, after losing all 10 of the babies they'd conceived, Marie Noe and her husband, Arthur, became the most famous bereaved parents in America, with most of the deaths attributed to "crib death," later called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). After a journalist revisited the case in 1998, investigators took another look at the mysteriou…
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On September 6, 1949, 28-year-old World War II veteran Howard Unruh ate the breakfast his mother made him, then armed himself with a Luger pistol and walked calmly through his Camden, New Jersey, neighborhood, shooting everyone in sight. He told police afterward he'd had a kill list of specific people he'd felt had wronged him, but by the end of hi…
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While the grift he deployed had been named for another man, Bernie Madoff took the concept of a Ponzi scheme and pumped it full of steroids, allowing it to keep him -- and plenty of others -- filthy rich for literally decades. In the end, Madoff bilked some $65 billion from thousands of clients, all while maintaining such a sheen of respectability …
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Italian-born Charles Ponzi had grown up hearing from his mother that he was destined for greatness, so it was no surprise to her when she visited him in America to find him wealthy beyond her wildest dreams. Ponzi had come up with a get-rich-quick scheme that he insisted was legal. To his credit, it took federal authorities a good seven months to f…
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This week we are diving into the tragic betrayal and murder of college student Alexis Crawford. SPONSORS Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Skillshare: https://skillshare.eqcm.net/XYOaYX ExpressVPN - 30 Day Free Trial: https://go.expressvpn.com/c/2653816/1462842/16063 Audible: Free Audio Book: www.audibletrial.com/larry21 DON'T FORGE…
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In the midst of nationwide bombings that pit union backers against anti-union bosses, an explosion at the Los Angeles Times building crossed a line that changed everything. At 1:07 a.m. on Oct. 1, 1910, a blast tore through the Times building, killing 21 people. Times officials immediately blamed organized labor, which ultimately bore out: Not only…
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In September 1944, a 24-year-old married woman named Recy Taylor was walking home with friends from church when a carload of seven men stopped her. Forced into the car, Recy, a Black woman, was repeatedly raped by six white men at gunpoint, then tossed roadside with a warning: Tell anyone about this, and you're dead. Recy ignored the threats and he…
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Hey, Crimes of the Centuries listeners! COTC is now part of Grab Bag Collab, a Patreon-based podcasting network. You can find our other shows available at patreon.com/grabbagcollab Alcoholism, multiple husbands and boarding houses. This is the story of The Landlady. Dive deep into the upbringing and backstories of individuals who committed history'…
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When luggage leaking blood arrived at a Los Angeles train depot in 1931, the woman who'd traveled with the items feigned ignorance -- and then disappeared, leading to a nationwide manhunt that captivated the nation. Because one of the two victims found inside the Winnie Ruth Judd's trunks had been dismembered -- and because both she and the victims…
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The morning of Aug. 1, 1966, 25-year-old Charles Whitman called his wife's boss to say she'd be out, then did the same for his mother. After killing the two women, he climbed atop the observatory tower at the University of Texas and relentlessly began picking off pedestrians below in an attack unlike any before witnessed in America. "Crimes of the …
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I dive into the real and horrifying story behind the well-known urban legend of a babysitter's nightmare, centering on the unresolved murder of Janett Christman in 1950, Columbia, Missouri. I detail the investigation's convolutions, touching on racial biases, the questionable execution of Floyd Cochran, and my suspicions towards Robert Mueller, a f…
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Explore the WorldCom scandal, one of the largest corporate frauds in history, in this season finale episode. Uncover the mechanisms of the fraud, its legal repercussions, and the lasting impact on corporate governance and the telecommunications industry." SPONSORS Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Skillshare: https://skillshare.eqcm…
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Explore the chilling true crime story of FBI Agent Mark Putnam, who crossed the line from law enforcer to lawbreaker in the murder of Susan Smith. This documentary delves into the investigation, betrayal, and aftermath of a case that shocked a community and changed FBI protocols forever. SPONSORS Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Sk…
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Every parent has worried about their children hauling home tainted candy on Halloween, but not everyone knows where that fear originated. On Halloween in 1974, an 8-year-old boy named Timothy O’Bryan was granted one pick from his basket before bed — and soon after downing the contents of his Pixy Stix, he went limp in his father’s arms. The investi…
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Explore the heart-wrenching story of the Beaumont children's disappearance in 1966, a case that changed Australia forever, capturing the nation's heart and altering its view on child safety. This episode delves into the details of their tragic beach day, the extensive search efforts, and the mystery that still lingers, reminding us of the preciousn…
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Explore the enigmatic case of Danny Casolaro, an investigative journalist whose pursuit of a vast conspiracy known as "The Octopus" ended with his mysterious death in a West Virginia hotel room. SPONSORS Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Skillshare: https://skillshare.eqcm.net/XYOaYX ExpressVPN - 30 Day Free Trial: https://go.expres…
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Notorious labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa had for decades been a polarizing figure, with his ties to organized crime investigated as early as 1957 by future U.S. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy. A jury tampering conviction eventually took him out of official power, but Hoffa worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reclaim his position -- until his dis…
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Grace Millane, a British backpacker, embarked on an ambitious journey to explore the southern hemisphere. Her travels led her to New Zealand in 2018, where she used Tinder to arrange a date in hopes of making new acquaintances. The person she met through the app was Jesse Kempson, who would tragically come to embody the very essence of a nightmare.…
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Living in Occupied Paris during World War II was utter chaos, with the Gestapo police constantly changing rules, kidnapping people from the streets and sidelining the Parisian police. A physician named Marcel Petiot claimed to be among the brave men and women working for the Resistance — a group determined to help smuggle endangered people to safet…
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Random offenses, Institutions and Orange Socks. This is the story of The Drifter. Dive deep into the upbringing and backstories of individuals who committed history's most notorious crimes, shedding light on the psychological factors that shaped their paths. With a suspenseful twist, the identities of these individuals won’t be unveiled until the e…
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This week on Boardroom Betrayals, we dive into the rise and fall of Lou Pearlman. Pearlman is responsible for establishing boy bands including NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. SPONSORS Paramount+ : http://paramountplus.qflm.net/QOPqmA Skillshare: https://skillshare.eqcm.net/XYOaYX ExpressVPN - 30 Day Free Trial: https://go.expressvpn.com/c/2653816/146284…
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The murder of Jennifer and Abby Blagg is a tragic story that highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence and the complexities of criminal investigations. This case unfolded in Grand Junction, Colorado, where a seemingly happy family was torn apart by an unthinkable act. Michael Blagg, a husband and father, was convicted of the murder of …
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