In this episode, we cover Sandy Melgar’s trial and how the prosecution says she committed a seemingly impossible crime. The videos mentioned in the episode are linked below.

Sources:

KHOU 11. “Watch: Could Sandra Melgar Have Locked Herself in the Closet?” YouTube, 29 Oct. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-5ZUfLJqoU.

KHOU 11. “Missing Pieces: What Does the Blood Evidence in the Melgar’s House Show?” YouTube, 30 Nov. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=waZKIHDrlLY.

KHOU 11. “Could Sandra Melgar Have Tied Herself up the Night Her Husband Died?” YouTube, 30 Nov. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1XwozdhMLo.

KHOU 11. “Court Denies Sandra Melgar’s Appeal, Upholding Murder Conviction.” YouTube, 8 Jan. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-OWy_ZuxQ.

Sandy Interrogation Transcript

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZzwNC6e83sNtxe1oeqZYWESnLC-K50j_/view

Matt Orchard - Crime and Society. “The Curious Case of Sandy Melgar.” YouTube, 25 Dec. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrCHj-LNjYQ.

True Crime Recaps. “Was Sandra Melgar Wrongly Convicted? | True Crime Recaps.” YouTube, 21 Aug. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QG2QPV_OE.

“Sandra Melgar - Innocence Project of Texas.” Innocence Project of Texas, 20 Dec. 2022, innocencetexas.org/cases/sandra-melgar.

“Sandra Jean Melgar V. The State of Texas Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Opinion).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourteenth-court-of-appeals/2020/14-17-00932-cr.html.

“MELGAR, SANDRA JEAN Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Original per Curiam).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2022/pd-0243-20.html.

Paparella, Andrew, et al. “Amateur Sleuths Take on Case of Woman in Prison for Stabbing, Bludgeoning Husband to Death: ‘There Were No Bones Behind’ Conviction.” Good Morning America, 23 Aug. 2019, www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/amateur-sleuths-case-woman-prison-stabbing-bludgeoning-husband-59477363.

Vanapalli, Viswa. “Sandra Melgar: Where Is the Convicted Killer Now?” The Cinemaholic, 16 Dec. 2023, thecinemaholic.com/where-is-sandra-melgar-now.

Pelisek, Christine. “A Daughter'S Outrage After Mom Is Convicted of Murdering Dad in Staged Home Invasion: Why She Says the Verdict Is Wrong.” Peoplemag, 7 Sept. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-murder-verdict-daughter-says-is-wrong.

“Texas Woman Convicted of Murder After Prosecutors Say She Killed Husband Then Staged a Home Invasion.” Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-guilty-husband-murder-fake-home-invasion.

FreeSandyMelgar. “The Wrongful Conviction of Sandra Melgar.” FreeSandyMelgar, www.freesandymelgar.com/the-melgar-murder-case.

Palin, Megan. “Woman Staged Home Invasion and Locked Herself in Closet After Brutally Murdering Her Husband.” NZ Herald, 22 Sept. 2020, www.nzherald.co.nz/world/woman-staged-home-invasion-and-locked-herself-in-closet-after-brutally-murdering-her-husband/JNHGGBRTYZGQCZY5HMXYDD6XJM.

The Houston police are faced with a bizarre murder case that reads like a riddle. A man is beaten and stabbed to death in his own home, while his wife is found barricaded in a closet, bound by her ankles and wrists, with no memory of what happened. There is no evidence of anyone else being in the house. Is it possible that the wife, who walked with a cane and was chronically ill, could have overpowered her husband, barricaded herself into a room from the opposite side of the door, and tied herself up? Or was there a stranger in the house that night?

Sources:

Sandy Interrogation Transcript

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZzwNC6e83sNtxe1oeqZYWESnLC-K50j_/view

Matt Orchard - Crime and Society. “The Curious Case of Sandy Melgar.” YouTube, 25 Dec. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrCHj-LNjYQ.

True Crime Recaps. “Was Sandra Melgar Wrongly Convicted? | True Crime Recaps.” YouTube, 21 Aug. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QG2QPV_OE.

“Sandra Melgar - Innocence Project of Texas.” Innocence Project of Texas, 20 Dec. 2022, innocencetexas.org/cases/sandra-melgar.

“Sandra Jean Melgar V. The State of Texas Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Opinion).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourteenth-court-of-appeals/2020/14-17-00932-cr.html.

“MELGAR, SANDRA JEAN Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Original per Curiam).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2022/pd-0243-20.html.

Paparella, Andrew, et al. “Amateur Sleuths Take on Case of Woman in Prison for Stabbing, Bludgeoning Husband to Death: ‘There Were No Bones Behind’ Conviction.” Good Morning America, 23 Aug. 2019, www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/amateur-sleuths-case-woman-prison-stabbing-bludgeoning-husband-59477363.

Vanapalli, Viswa. “Sandra Melgar: Where Is the Convicted Killer Now?” The Cinemaholic, 16 Dec. 2023, thecinemaholic.com/where-is-sandra-melgar-now.

Pelisek, Christine. “A Daughter'S Outrage After Mom Is Convicted of Murdering Dad in Staged Home Invasion: Why She Says the Verdict Is Wrong.” Peoplemag, 7 Sept. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-murder-verdict-daughter-says-is-wrong.

“Texas Woman Convicted of Murder After Prosecutors Say She Killed Husband Then Staged a Home Invasion.” Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-guilty-husband-murder-fake-home-invasion.

FreeSandyMelgar. “The Wrongful Conviction of Sandra Melgar.” FreeSandyMelgar, www.freesandymelgar.com/the-melgar-murder-case.

Palin, Megan. “Woman Staged Home Invasion and Locked Herself in Closet After Brutally Murdering Her Husband.” NZ Herald, 22 Sept. 2020, www.nzherald.co.nz/world/woman-staged-home-invasion-and-locked-herself-in-closet-after-brutally-murdering-her-husband/JNHGGBRTYZGQCZY5HMXYDD6XJM.

When two beloved professors are brutally murdered in their own home, rumors of an affair emerge, but is a jealous lover really the murderer?

Sources:

Francis, Eric. The Dartmouth Murders. Macmillan, 2002.

Lehr, Dick, and Mitchell Zuckoff. Judgment Ridge. Harper Collins, 6 Oct. 2009.

“Robert Tulloch: Formative Years.” Times Argus, 17 Oct. 2018, https://www.timesargus.com/news/robert-tulloch-formative-years/article_142305f9-4fa8-5f48-9307-92c44202dfd8.html.

Fox Butterfield. (2002, April 5). Teenagers Are Sentenced For Killing Two Professors. TimesMachine. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/2002/04/05/405078.html?pageNumber=15

ABC News. (2006, January 7). Neighbors Aid Dartmouth Slay Suspects’ Families. https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93859&page=1

Mehren, E. (2019, March 1). 2 Fugitive Teens Arrested in Professors’ Killings. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-20-mn-27781-story.html

Maddi, T. (2022, February 27). Ivy League Murders. Criminal Discourse Podcast. https://criminaldiscoursepodcast.com/ivy-league-murders/

Giaccone, J. (2021b, December 24). Dark Passenger - See It Now. Medium. https://medium.com/see-it-now/dark-passenger-da546ad1d161

Paciorek, A. (2012, November 10). Dartmouth murder suspects apprehended in Indiana. Yale Daily News. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/02/20/dartmouth-murder-suspects-apprehended-in-indiana

Mooney, B. K. S. (2012, February 2). Teen Suspects In Dartmouth Killings Found / Hunt ends at Indiana truck stop -- pair to face murder charges. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Teen-Suspects-In-Dartmouth-Killings-Found-Hunt-2950179.php

Glennie, R. B. (2022, May 3). The Flowers of Evil. Anatomy of Culture. http://anatomyofculture.blogspot.com/2010/02/flowers-of-evil.html

Steve Zind. (2006, January 27). Loss still deeply felt on anniversary of murder. VPR. https://archive.vpr.org/vpr-news/loss-still-deeply-felt-on-anniversary-of-murder/

(2021, January 28). The Dartmouth Murders Twenty Years Later. The Dartmouth Review. https://dartreview.com/the-dartmouth-murders-twenty-years-later/

A violent home invasion results in the death of a loving husband and father, and ends what neighbors and friends called the "perfect marriage." But as any Stranger in the House listener knows, nothing is what it seems, and this crime will reveal a messy love triangle and a devious murder plot.

Sources:

“Linda Jones | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Murderpedia.org, murderpedia.org/female.J/j/jones-linda.htm. Accessed 12 May 2024.

“Woman Plots Brutal Murder-For-Hire of Husband after He Has Affair with Teen Girl.” Oxygen Official Site, 29 Aug. 2018, www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-time/woman-plots-murder-for-hire-husband-affair-teen-girl. Accessed 12 May 2024.

“The Commission on Capital Cases Updates This Information Regularly.” Www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us, www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/Documents/Case_updates/Htm/066600.html. Accessed 12 May 2024.

BRADLEY v. STATE (2010) Donald BRADLEY, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. Donald Bradley, Petitioner, v. Walter A. McNeil, etc., Respondent. Nos. SC07-1964, SC08-1813. Decided: January 07, 2010 https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/375777/file/07-1964_ini.pdf

The Amityville Horror is one of the most famous stories in American pop culture, but do you know the story of the murders that started it all? Before all the paranormal theories and conspiracies, one Amityville family experienced a real-life horror story: a deadly stranger in their house.

Sources:

Blistein, Jon, and Jon Blistein. “Ronald DeFeo, Killer Who Inspired “The Amityville Horror,” Dead at 69.” Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2021, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/amityville-horror-murderer-ronald-defeo-dead-1142644/.

Juan Ignacio Blanco. “Ronald DeFeo | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Murderpedia.org, 2010, murderpedia.org/male.D/d/defeo-ronald.htm.

Kruszelnicki, Karl S. “Amityville Truth a Shocking Horror.” Www.abc.net.au, 8 Mar. 2011, www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/03/08/3157382.htm. Accessed 7 May 2024.

“Ronald DeFeo - Murders, Movie & Family.” Biography, 16 Sept. 2019, www.biography.com/crime/ronald-defeo.

Dziemianowicz, Joe. “The Disturbing New York Family Massacre That Inspired a Horror Movie Hit.” Oxygen Official Site, 24 Nov. 2021, www.oxygen.com/family-massacre/crime-news/amityville-horror-true-story-behind-ron-defeos-family-massacre.

Lynott, Douglas B. "The Real Life Amityville Horror". truTV Crime Library. Trutv.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008.

Amityvillemurders.com, 2021, amityvillemurders.com/.

It’s a case that haunts Japan...and your host. A family of four is brutally murdered on New Year's Eve and despite hundreds of pieces of evidence being collected at the scene, this case remains unsolved. Listen closely, because someone out there knows something and could help bring justice to this family.

If anyone can offer information regarding the crime, contact the MPD investigation team at 03-3482-3829.

Sources:

Szymanska, M. (2022, March 30). What we really know about the Setagaya family murder? Medium. https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/what-we-really-know-about-the-setagaya-family-murder-a87389875e71

1. (2022, June 2). The killer stayed several hours in the house after killing (The Setagaya Family murders Mystery). Medium. https://medium.com/heartfilia/the-killer-spent-several-hours-in-the-house-after-killing-the-setagaya-family-murders-mystery-952c00901686

Japan Today. “Police Seek Public’s Help over Setagaya Family Murders in 2000.” Japan Today, japantoday.com/category/crime/Police-seek-public%E2%80%99s-help-over-Setagaya-family-murders-in-2000. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“The Gruesome Japanese Unsolved Mystery of the Setagaya Family Murder.” Mysteriousuniverse.org, mysteriousuniverse.org/2021/09/the-gruesome-japanese-unsolved-mystery-of-the-setagaya-family-murder/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“Ex-Detective in Setagaya Family Murders Still Supports Mother | the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis.” The Asahi Shimbun, www.google.com/url?q=www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14085667&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1713907821553138&usg=AOvVaw2WiMpnJgdcnT2wBCzwksyk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“The Setagaya Murders.” Unresolved, unresolved.me/the-setagaya-murders.

Sturmer, Jake, and Yumi Asada in Setagaya. “The Faceless Killer Who Slaughtered an Entire Family and Then Vanished for Two Decades.” ABC News, 29 Dec. 2019, www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-29/the-house-of-horrors-in-setagaya-japan/11771304?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment.

Taylor, H. R. “Morbid Streak: The Setagaya Family Murders: The Bizarre Unsolved Murder of a Family of Four.” Morbid Streak, 27 Oct. 2015, morbidstreak.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-setagaya-family-murders-bizarre.html. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Thorne. “The Scary, Strange Setagaya Family Murders.” Smol.news, smol.news/p/the-scary-strange-setagaya-family?s=r. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“The Setagaya Family Case | 世田谷事件.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSsGmLApAr8. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“Setagaya Family Murders 20 Years On: “It’s a Case That Must Be Solved.”” TokyoReporter, 30 Dec. 2020,

“MPD Pledges to Solve 2000 Murder of Tokyo Family of 4.” Mainichi Daily News, 31 Dec. 2017, mainichi.jp/english/articles/20171231/p2a/00m/0na/013000c. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/setagaya-family-murders-20-years-on-its-a-case-that-must-be-solved/.

https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/safe_society/wanted/seijo.files/eng.pdf

https://police-station.com/seijo-police-station-in-setagaya-japan-address-phone-number-file-a-complaint-police-clearance-certificate/

Four unsuspecting women are brutally attacked by their neighbor who claims she was sent by God to rid the world of demons.

Sources:

Surdin, Ashley. “Lakewood Woman Describes Knife Attack That Killed Sister.” Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2006, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-28-me-slash28-story.html. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“People v. Krall, B231290 | Casetext Search + Citator.” Casetext.com, casetext.com/case/people-v-krall-6. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“Virginia Krall | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Murderpedia.org, murderpedia.org/female.K/k/krall-virginia.htm. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

“Krall Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Lakewood Slashing Spree.” Press Telegram, 14 Aug. 2009, www.presstelegram.com/2009/08/14/krall-guilty-of-second-degree-murder-in-lakewood-slashing-spree/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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News |, Daily. “Woman Gets 36 Years to Life in Lakewood Murder.” Daily News, 13 Jan. 2011, www.dailynews.com/2011/01/13/woman-gets-36-years-to-life-in-lakewood-murder/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

It's been called ‘The Crime of the Century,’ but you may not have heard of it. Today we cover Richard Speck’s horrific mass murder, but be warned, this episode is not for the faint of heart. Listener discretion is advised.

Sources:

Nov 1, Rona Alondra |, and 2021. “Corazon Amurao: The Filipino Nurse Who Survived a Massacre and Put a Mass Murderer Behind Bars.” Esquiremag.ph, www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/corazon-amurao-filipino-nurse-chicago-massacre-a2689-20211101-lfrm3.

“Richard Speck Was One of the Most Sadistic Serial Killers of All Time.” ViralNova, 15 Oct. 2019, viralnova.com/richard-speck-killer/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Allely, Clare S., et al. “Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Serial Killers and Mass Murderers.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 3, 2014, pp. 288–301, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178914000305, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.04.004.

Crime and Investigation. “The Link between Serial Killers and Head Trauma.” Crime+Investigation UK, 17 Jan. 2020, www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-link-between-serial-killers-and-head-trauma.

“Richard Franklin Speck Trial: 1967 | Encyclopedia.com.” Www.encyclopedia.com, www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/richard-franklin-speck-trial-1967.

History.com Editors. “A Mass Murderer Leaves Eight Women Dead.” HISTORY, 13 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-mass-murderer-leaves-eight-women-dead.

Silverman, Leah. “The Story of Richard Speck, the Man Who Killed Eight Women in One Night.” All That’s Interesting, All That’s Interesting, 17 Nov. 2017, allthatsinteresting.com/richard-speck.

Sobol, Rosemary. “Rare Photos, Interviews Honor 8 Nurses Slain by Richard Speck in 1966.” Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2016, www.chicagotribune.com/2016/06/14/rare-photos-interviews-honor-8-nurses-slain-by-richard-speck-in-1966/.

“RICHARD SPECK.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=slm_YDzx4vI.

Mannen, Amanda. “The Richard Speck Murders: The Most Horrifying Mass Killing You’ve Never Heard Of.” Cracked.com, 14 July 2022, www.cracked.com/article_34636_the-richard-speck-murders-the-most-horrifying-mass-killing-youve-never-heard-of.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Corky Siemaszko. “How Richard Speck’s Rampage 50 Years Ago Changed a Nation.” NBC News, NBC News, 13 July 2016, www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/how-richard-speck-s-rampage-50-years-ago-changed-nation-n606211.

Juan Ignacio Blanco. “Richard Speck | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Murderpedia.org, 2019, murderpedia.org/male.S/s/speck-richard.htm.