Our True Crime Podcast

• The Monster on Rose Avenue: Lisa French

  It was Halloween night in 1973 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Nine-year-old Lisa Ann French dressed up to go trick-or-treating, but she never came home. Lisa's disappearance terrified the town. The desperate search lasted for days, ending with a shocking discovery that changed how families everywhere thought about letting their kids trick-or-treat. The awful truth? The person who took Lisa was someone she knew, a neighbor who lived right nearby. This week, join Cam and Jen as they discuss the case of Lisa French and how "The Monster on Rose Avenue" stole a child's life and changed Halloween forever. Thank you to our team Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠ Sources: https://www.wisciviljusticecouncil.org/wwcms/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Thomas-M.-Hruz-Criminals-Escaping-Affliction-Gerald-Turner-and-Wisconsin%E2%80%99s-Fair-Employment-Law-Wisconsin-Interest-Winter-2000-at-7..pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Lisa_Ann_French https://www.nbc26.com/fonddulac/judge-says-halloween-killer-will-stay-in-mental-health-facility  (this article says she died of shock) https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/591494d9add7b049345c40a7 https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1abu1z6/on_halloween_1973_9yearold_lisa_ann_french_was/ https://people.com/lisa-french-halloween-murder-11697665 https://www.newspapers.com/image/270324881/?match=1&clipping_id=180855281 https://www.newspapers.com/image/270330493/?match=1&clipping_id=180855438 https://www.newspapers.com/image/597646228/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/285243209/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/270347812/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/288054377/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/285223032/?match=1&clipping_id=180859221 https://www.newspapers.com/image/285323435/?match=1&clipping_id=180859305 https://www.newspapers.com/image/288068208/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/611573818/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/406427707/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/1053173158/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder%20Halloween https://www.newspapers.com/image/270538845/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder https://www.newspapers.com/image/270538845/?match=1&terms=Lisa%20French%20murder https://www.newspapers.com/image/290818494/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/270538317/?match=1&clipping_id=180862764 https://www.newspapers.com/image/270538375/?match=1&terms=Arlene%20Penn https://www.newspapers.com/image/290924434/?match=1&terms=%22Lisa%20French%22%20murder (refutes confessions, denies even seeing her) https://www.newspapers.com/image/1035313879/?match=1&terms=%22Lisa%20French%22%20murder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoned_candy_myths https://www.newspapers.com/image/270326228/?match=1&terms=%22Lisa%20French%22%20funeral https://www.newspapers.com/image/288073336/?match=1&terms=%22Lisa%20French%22%20funeral http://www.apricetopay.com/blog/the-halloween-killer https://www.thepetitionsite.com/713/926/478/petition-to-keep-the-quotthe-halloween-killer-gerald-m.-turner-incarcerated/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  48:48

  --------

  48:48
• UPDATE: Robert Brashers: Austin Yogurt Shop Killings

  UPDATE: When we first covered Robert Eugene Brashers back in April 2025, we never imagined he’d be tied to one of Texas’s most infamous crimes: the 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. Now, advanced DNA testing has confirmed his link to the horrific killings that haunted Austin for more than three decades. On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, and Amy Ayers, were found bound, gagged, and shot inside an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop that had been set on fire. The case became one of Texas’s deepest mysteries, spawning thousands of leads, false confessions, and the wrongful convictions of two young men later cleared by DNA evidence. Now stay tuned for episode 305: “Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers.” From the original airdate: For years, Robert Brashers had managed to evade justice, slipping through the cracks repeatedly. But on January 13, 1999, his luck finally ran out in a modest motel room in Kennett, Missouri. What began as a routine police search quickly escalated into a tense, life-or-death standoff that would forever change the lives of those involved. Who was Robert Brashers? A man who his wife and children loved. What could have driven him to such a tragic end?  The entire truth would remain hidden for years, with whispers suggesting that there were more victims out there.   Join Jen and Cam of Our True Crime Podcast on this episode, "Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers.”  Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS Music is by our executive producer @theinkypawprint Sources:  https://www.facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery/videos/connected-by-murder-on-the-case-with-paula-zahn/2284387901877879/ https://greenvillejournal.com/tag/robert-eugene-brashers/ https://www.kait8.com/2018/10/05/killer-linked-murders-missouri-tennessee-south-carolina-paragould/ https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/murder-suspects-robert-brashers-body-exhumed-solve-two-1990s-cold-cases https://archive.today/20230115112055/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/05/greenville-cold-case-robert-brashers-jenny-zitricki/1534079002/ https://archive.ph/20230115112155/https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/02/05/my-father-was-serial-killer-robert-brashers-daughter-speaks-out/#selection-811.21-1279.52 https://archive.ph/20230115112128/https://greenvillejournal.com/news/greenville-police-murderer-in-28-year-old-cold-case-identified/#selection-937.42-937.43 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Brashers https://archive.today/20230115112038/https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2020/nov/19/fulton-resident-reminisces-homicide-investigation/ https://archive.ph/20230115112159/https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/01/13/daughter-serial-killer-rapist-tied-greenville-hes-still-my-father/2481586002/#selection-529.0-851.132 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31099977/robert-brashers-mo-from-1985/ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54853022/robert-brashers-florida-crime-1985/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  45:22

  --------

  45:22
• 329. From Mother to Monster: The Knotek Family

  The Knotek residence appeared unremarkable to outsiders. A modest home, needing a bit of work from years of rain, rested quietly on a tree-lined street. To neighbors, it was just another house, just another family. Behind its doors, however, was a living nightmare—meticulously orchestrated by Michelle Knotek, with the complicity of her husband, David. Outwardly, Michelle seemed maternal, warm, and inviting. In truth, her hospitality was a trap. At first, life with the Knoteks appeared normal, but the facade didn’t last long. Michelle’s cruelty emerged gradually, each act more deliberate and sadistic than the last.  Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘From Mother to Monster: The Knotek Family.’ Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS All Music by our EP @theinkypawprint Make sure to check out the promo from our friends at The Final Trace https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-final-trace  Sources: https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Tell-Unbreakable-Sisterhood-ebook/dp/B07Q5TL9SQ https://books.google.com/books?id=5ahTxAEACAAJ https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/raymond-murderer-crazy-shellie-released-from-prison/article_539f6e46-61f3-11ed-99c6-433b5a338fd0.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-court-of-appeals/1430291.html https://ftp.spaceneedle.com/browse/mL1FD1/600976/Knotek%20Daughters%20Their%20Story%20Unveiled.pdf http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/08-14/228867_couple_charged_with_murder_in_d.html https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030817/raymond17m/something-unspeakable-now-the-talk-of-two-towns http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Woman-gets-22-years-in-deaths-of-boarders-1152156.php https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/photos/episode-19-michelle-knotek https://www.shortform.com/blog/michelle-knotek-shane-watson/ https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/AMER-MOST-EVIL-MOM-SHELLY-KNOT/26348146 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657267/ https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/suspect-s-relatives-contacted-police-in-2001-1121929.php#page-1- https://tdn.com/business/local/raymond-couple-charged-in-murders/article_944e373c-9fbd-5bfb-8650-2501a09a53aa.html http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Dog-adds-twist-to-Raymond-case-1121726.php Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  52:17

  --------

  52:17
• 328. The Butcher of Baton Rouge: Sean Vincent Gillis

  Careful! This one is disturbing. In the early 2000s, women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, lived in fear. Two different predators were stalking the city, leaving a trail of terror and death. While authorities were hunting for one killer, another, even more depraved murderer was operating completely under the radar. For ten years, Sean Vincent Gillis lived a chilling double life, murdering at least eight women, and the details of his crimes are beyond deranged. Even other serial killers are disturbed by him. He wasn't some dark, shadowy figure who stood out from the crowd. To all who knew him, he was just an ordinary guy, not the monster that was hiding in plain sight. Join Jen and Cam as they talk about "The Butcher of Baton Rouge: Sean Vincent Gillis." Be sure to stay and listen to the promo for Ghost Bites. It's a new podcast brought to you by our friends, Mike and JT from Brew Crime. It's perfect listening for spooky season! Thank you to our team Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠ Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Vincent_Gillis https://www.newspapers.com/image/218293983 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037869884/?match=1&clipping_id=179454176 https://www.newspapers.com/image/473164922/?match=1&clipping_id=179454243 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037516392/?match=1&clipping_id=179454409 https://www.promega.es/-/media/files/products-and-services/genetic-identity/ishi-28-oral-abstracts/berry.pdf https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/gillis-sean.htm https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037890650/?match=1&clipping_id=179456922 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037890581/?match=1&terms=%22Hardee%20Schmidt%22 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58750961/rachel-anna-bryan https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147871800/donna-johnston https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93816412/annie_hardee-schmidt https://www.newspapers.com/image/447359491/?match=1&terms=%22Johnnie%20Mae%20Williams%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/229163871/?match=1&clipping_id=179459891 https://www.newspapers.com/image/470289746/?match=1&clipping_id=179459996 https://www.newspapers.com/image/220130172/?match=1&clipping_id=179460099 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1038511629/?match=1&clipping_id=179460210 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1038511320/?match=1&clipping_id=179460342 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037326900/?match=1&terms=%22Donna%20Bennett%20Johnston%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/225434960/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Vincent%20Gillis%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1036434978/?match=1&clipping_id=179461186 https://youtu.be/KPB_vznn77o?si=Y7R-0F4rbXCG5a08 https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/sean-gillis-now https://medmindist.com/sean-vincent-gillis/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037300915/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Gillis%22%20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/539788905/?match=1&terms=%22Sean%20Gillis%22%20 https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Sean_Vincent_Gillis Gillis is also featured in several documentaries, including "Butchers in the Bayou," "The Devil You Know," and "World's Most Evil Killers." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  47:16

  --------

  47:16
• 327. Love, Lies and the Internet: The Murder of Brian Barrett

  The internet often feels like a harmless escape. A place where Facebook shows you picture-perfect families, where influencers promise miracles in a bottle, where friendships are born from nothing more than a shared “like.” But behind the glow of the monitor, reality can warp into something darker, something far more dangerous than anyone imagines. In one quiet town, a single online connection spiraled into lies, obsession, and betrayal, trapping people in a digital web they never saw coming until it was too late. Because online, anyone can be anything. And for one young man, that illusion would prove deadly. Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Love, Lies and the Internet: The Murder of Brian Barrett.’ Listener discretion by Edward @OctoberpodVHS Music by our editor/ep @theinkypawprint Sources: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180168/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjNvcrAA0A https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/nyregion/07triangle.html https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/courts-montgomery-gets-20-years-in-internet-love-triangle-killing/article_d124d951-07a1-5d2e-bdae-b15098085262.html https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca6/24-5637/24-5637-2025-06-09.html https://www.officer.com/investigations/article/55293384/how-to-catch-a-criminal-liar-liar https://www.cbsnews.com/news/internet-love-triangle-comes-to-deadly-end/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/web-user-sentenced-for-killing-online-rival-1.636158 https://abcnews.go.com/US/online-love-triangle-deception-end-murder/story?id=14371076 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  55:57

  --------

  55:57

More Society & Culture podcasts

Trending Society & Culture podcasts

About Our True Crime Podcast