Crimes of the Centuries

Multiple murders, violent assaults, and a new forensic fingerprint technique. In today's episode we visit the killings, the acquittals, and eventually the conviction of Richard Rogers, a cold-blooded serial killer whose suspected crimes span from 1973 to 1993, and whose final victim count may never be known. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Lomi - Turn your food waste into dirt with the press of a button with Lomi. Use the code COTC to save $50 at lomi.com/COTC Ritual - Synbiotic+ and Ritual are here to celebrate, not hide, your insides. Visit ritual.com/COTC to get 10% off during your first 3 months. Blissy - Get better sleep now with Blissy and use COTC to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/COTC  Alo Moves - For a limited time, Alo Moves is offering my listeners, a free 30-day trial PLUS –get this -50% off an annual membership. But you can only get it by going to ALOMOVES.com and using code COTC in all caps.

In the musical Chicago, the foreign woman held prisoner on Murderess Row has only one line in English: "Uh-uh, not guilty."   In today's episode, we explore the real-life case that inspired that character, Sabella Nitti, who was accused of murdering her husband, and her fight to speak for herself and prove her innocence. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Athena Club - Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Head to www.athenaclub.com and use code CRIMES for 25% off your first order. Wildgrain - The first-ever, bake-from-frozen subscription box for breads, pastas, and pastries. Save $30 off your first box - plus free croissants in every box - when you go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC.  Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off.

Though he had been known by many names throughout his life, it was under the name Edward Earl that he was prosecuted and hanged in 1881 New York.  What would the writings he composed in prison reveal about why he murdered his estranged wife?  "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off. Zocdoc - the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, are available when you need them and treat almost every condition under the sun. Go to www.zocdoc.com/COTC and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. 

You're probably familiar with the concept of Stockholm Syndrome - the phenomenon where people taken hostage come to empathize with or even join up with their captors.  But did you realize that the term comes from a specific incident, a strange bank robbery at the Sveriges Kreditbank that turned into a multiday siege pitting the criminals against the police, with innocent workers trapped in the middle and unsure who to trust. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Green Chef - The #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well. Go to www.GreenChef.com/cotc60 and use code cotc60 to get 60% off plus free shipping. Helix - Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc Firstleaf - America's most personalized wine company.  Go to www.tryfirstleaf.com/COTC to get 50% off your first six bottles plus free shipping. Tawkify - The #1 matchmaking service designed to help you achieve relationshiop success. Visit www.tawkify.com/COTC for 20% when you become a client.

Chicago's state-of-the-art Iroquois Theatre was supposed to be a jewel in the rapidly expanding American arts scene of the early twentieth century.  But in an emergency, a combination of disaster management, design flaws, and construction shortcuts proved to be a deadly combination. Special thanks to Charlie McCarron for producing and performing the out-of-print song "Let Us Swear It By the Pale Moonlight" for this episode. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Cerebral - Quality mental health care that accessible and affordable. Get 50% or more off your first month of therapy at www.cerebral.com/cotc. Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off. Athena Club - Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Head to www.athenaclub.com and use code CRIMES for 25% off your first order.  Alo Moves - Streaming on-demand wellness featuring yoga, fitness, meditation, and so much more! Go to www.alomoves.com and use code COTC in all caps for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership.

At the height of the space race, the arrival of the Thiokol chemical company was supposed to bring jobs and opportunities for the small Georgia town of Woodbine.  But a tragic explosion in 1971 killed 29 workers and left many of the survivors in the community entangled in lawsuits for decades afterwards.  "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Zocdoc - the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, are available when you need them and treat almost every condition under the sun. Go to www.zocdoc.com/COTC and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.  Wildgrain - The first-ever, bake-from-frozen subscription box for breads, pastas, and pastries. Save $30 off your first box - plus free croissants in every box - when you go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC. Ritual - Visit www.ritual.com/COTC for 10% off during your first three months. Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off.

Brothers Herman and Irving Arthur wanted to leave their life as Southern sharecroppers in Texas and move to the North in search of better opportunities.  But after an encounter with the landowners turned lethal, they found themselves on the run from a town setting out for revenge. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Helix - Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc Tawkify - The #1 matchmaking service designed to help you achieve relationshiop success. Visit www.tawkify.com/COTC for 20% when you become a client. Green Chef - The #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well. Go to www.GreenChef.com/cotc60 and use code cotc60 to get 60% off plus free shipping.

This week we dive into our archives for a look back at one our episodes from the first season of "Crimes of the Centuries." Check out this episode and all our episodes from seasons 1 and 2, and we'll see you next week for a brand-new tale! When widower Sam Doss was rushed to the hospital with abdominal pains in 1954, his doctor was flummoxed by his life-threatening yet mysterious illness. But Doss got better and came home -- then died the next day. That's what prompted police to look at his matronly, sweet-talking new wife, Nannie. Born Nannie Hazle, it turned out this missus had left a trail of dead husbands behind her -- not to mention several relatives, all of whom died of sudden and inexplicable illnesses. By the time Nannie was done confessing, she'd earned nicknames like The Giggling Grandma and The Black Widow. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod

Nick De Noia dreamed of becoming a successful choreographer, a goal he attained through his sexy yet classy routines for the Chippendales all-male revue.  Unfortunately, that job also brought him into the crosshairs of the dance troupe's controlling owner, Steve Banerjee.  With the story recently revived in the Hulu series "Welcome to Chippendales," we're diving deep into the details to sort out the fact from the fiction in this sordid tale. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off. Sunday Scaries - Stress relief products to help you defeat the beast within. Visit www.sundayscaries.com and use code COTC for 25% off. Cerebral - Quality mental health care that accessible and affordable. Get 50% or more off your first month of therapy at www.cerebral.com/cotc.

Months after being named "Playboy Playmate of the Year" in 1980, Dorothy Stratten was poised to make the transition from model to Hollywood actress.  But just as her debut film was about to be released, Dorothy's troubled relationship with her estranged husband ended in one final, tragic encounter. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Wildgrain - The first-ever, bake-from-frozen subscription box for breads, pastas, and pastries. Save $30 off your first box - plus free croissants in every box - when you go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC. Athena Club - Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Head to www.athenaclub.com and use code CRIMES for 25% off your first order.  Alo Moves - Streaming on-demand wellness featuring yoga, fitness, meditation, and so much more! Go to www.alomoves.com and use code COTC in all caps for a free 30-day trial and 50% off an annual membership. Tawkify - The #1 matchmaking service designed to help you achieve relationshiop success. Visit www.tawkify.com/COTC for 20% when you become a client.

In Prohibition Era Chicago, competing gangs of bootleggers battled for supremacy.  In February 1929, notorious gangster Al Capone set up a brazen trap to mow down a slew of his rivals in what would become one of the most infamous crimes of the time.  It would also lead to the creation of America's first-ever crime laboratory, and mark the beginning of the end for some of the most powerful criminals in American history. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Ritual - Visit www.ritual.com/COTC for 10% off during your first three months. Lomi - Transform the way you do trash and you'll never go back. Head to www.lomi.com/COTC and use promo code COTC to get $50 off your Lomi. Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the market.  Go to www.blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off. Firstleaf - America's most personalized wine company.  Go to www.tryfirstleaf.com/COTC to get your first six bottles for $39.95 plus free shipping.

In Victorian England, a serial killer preyed on sex workers and other vulnerable women. But unlike the infamous Jack the Ripper, this serial killer, Dr. Thomas Cream, used his medical knowledge to devise more insidious methods to claim his victims. But once uncovered, his conviction would set precedent for legal cases for decades to come. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Helix - Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc Cerebral - Quality mental health care that accessible and affordable. Get 50% or more off your first month of therapy at www.cerebral.com/cotc. Green Chef - The #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well. Go to www.GreenChef.com/cotc60 and use code cotc60 to get 60% off plus free shipping. Sunday Scaries - Stress relief products to help you defeat the beast within. Visit www.sundayscaries.com and use code COTC for 25% off.

After the 1984 discovery of 9-year-old Dawn Hamilton’s body in the woods, police began their search for a tall, muscular, curly-haired man. Kirk Bloodsworth – fitting that description – was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Then, he was tried again and given two consecutive life sentences. Finally, nine years after first being blamed for the crime, a breakthrough in DNA technology would make history. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Sunday Scaries - Stress relief products to help you defeat the beast within. Visit www.sundayscaries.com and use code COTC for 25% off. StoryWorth - Help your family share their story this holiday season. Go to www.StoryWorth.com/cotc today and save $10 on your first purchase. Wildgrain - The first bake-from-frozen box for artisanal bread! Go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC or use promo code COTC for $30 off your first box and free croissants in every box! Helix - Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc

In the summer of 1964, the first modern lottery was off to the races in New Hampshire. The “Sweeps,” as they were called, were a sensation of national interest, with lawmakers quarreling over the legality of the get-rich-quick horse race scheme and citizens from all over crossing state lines to get in on the action. The craze seemed optimistic, until one man’s attempt at claiming his piece of the pie turned scandalous. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Miracle Brand - Self-cooling and self-cleaning sheets to transform how you sleep! Go to www.trymiracle.com/COTC and use code COTC for over 40% off and three free towels!

Film adaptations of true crimes have to strike a tricky balance between authenticity and drama. 1987’s Murder Ordained depicts the 1983 incidents within a small town in Kansas, where the mysterious deaths of a minister’s wife and a secretary’s husband converge. But upon its release, residents and journalists alike argued the movie left some accuracy to be desired. So, what happened in Emporia? "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: StoryWorth - Help your family share their story this holiday season. Go to www.StoryWorth.com/cotc today and save $10on your first purchase. Sunday Scaries - Stress relief products to help you defeat the beast within. Visit www.sundayscaries.com and use code COTC for 25% off. Cold Season 3 - Listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, COLD, in the Amazon Music App.

Singing his way through the 1950s and early 1960s, appealing to audiences across a segregated music industry, churning out hits of dreamy quality like “You Send Me” and inspirational fortitude like “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke was more than an artist. He lived – and died – a legend. So how did he end up shot in a Los Angeles motel in 1964? In this episode, we’ll trace the tale: start to finish. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Lomi - The countertop electric composter that turns scraps to dirt in under 4 hours! Head to www.lomi.com/COTC and use the promo code COTC to get $50 off your Lomi. Wildgrain - The first bake-from-frozen box for artisanal bread! Go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC or use promo code COTC for $30 off your first box and free croissants in every box! Helix - Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc Miracle Brand - Self-cooling and self-cleaning sheets to transform how you sleep! Go to www.trymiracle.com/COTC and use code COTC for over 40% off and three free towels!

Inside a modest cabin on the vast prairies of Kansas lived a family, or at least four individuals claiming to be one. The Benders were an odd bunch: grumpy Ma & Pa, mysteriously moody daughter Kate and John, who didn't even share their namesake. The 1870s were a stark time in the yet-to-be-settled, American West. Travelers on long journeys had slim pickings when it came time to seek shelter. The Benders capitalized on this by doubling their home as an inn, where many checked in... but never checked out. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Blissy - Upgrade your sleep with Blissy’s Award-Winning 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcases. Try now risk-free for 60 nights, at www.Blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off.

Dr. Linda Hazzard was an extremely unorthodox physician, a so-called "fasting specialist" who believed food to be the cause of disease. After as many as a dozen people died under her care, her sensational trial would make headlines worldwide and expose the dangerously unregulated world of medical quackery. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Sunday Scaries - Stress relief products to help you defeat the beast within. Visit www.sundayscaries.com and use code COTC for 25% off. Lomi - The countertop electric composter that turns scraps to dirt in under 4 hours! Head to www.lomi.com/COTC and use the promo code COTC to get $50 off your Lomi.

Selena Quintanilla was on the cusp of becoming a worldwide sensation. The Mexican American had already dominated Tejano music charts for years, but as the mid-1990s got under way, so too did her plans for an English-language album that many predicted would make her a superstar. The world was shocked when that all came to a horrifying end in March of 1995, when the beloved singer was fatally shot by a woman who claimed to adore her. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Wildgrain - The first bake-from-frozen box for artisanal bread! Go to www.wildgrain.com/COTC or use promo code COTC for $30 off your first box and free croissants in every box! Blissy - Upgrade your sleep with Blissy’s Award-Winning 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcases. Try now risk-free for 60 nights, at www.Blissy.com/COTC and use code COTC to get an additional 30% off.

The 1981 shooting death of Paul Witte, a father of two in Indiana, seemed to be an accident: Paul's 15-year-old son Eric said he'd tripped while holding the gun, fatally wounding his dad as he napped on the living room couch. The case was considered closed -- until a few years later when a second accident befell the Witte family. This time, police dug deeper and found that Paul's wife, Hilma Marie Witte, had been the mastermind of two horrific tragedies. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Helix: Comfort designed for every body. Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for our listeners at www.HelixSleep.com/cotc Heights: Tackle brain fog, energy, and sleep issues with Heights' Smart Supplement.  Go to www.yourheights.com and use code COTC for an extra 15% off your first subscription.