The Book of the Dead
Hosted by Courtney Liso, The Book of the Dead is a true crime podcast that focuses on the victims of lesser-known crimes. Each episode presents a deep dive into a case from around the world, dissecting the details to tell the whole story of who each victim was, in addition to what happened to them. Formerly hosted by a mother-daughter team, the podcast has evolved with one host, taking the care necessary to ensure each victim is honored as they should be. Join Courtney every Wednesday at 12am EST for a new chapter in The Book of the Dead.
Episodes
Chapter 113: Blood in the Hudson-The Bag Murders, Addison Verrill, and The Exorcist Curse
In the 1970s, New York's LGBTQ Community was gripped by fear; from a string of grisly unsolved killings known as the “Bag Murders,” to the shocking murder of film critic Addison Verrill, and whispers of a Hollywood curse surrounding The Exo…
Chapter 112: In Cold Blood-The Death of Dr. Eric Garcia w/ Chris Connelly
In March 2017, the quiet Alaskan town of Ketchikan was rocked by the sudden death of beloved surgeon Dr. Eric Garcia. Found in his home under suspicious circumstances, his death would devolve into a mystery that was truly stranger than fict…
Chapter 111: Something Wicked-The Murder of Joshua Bennett
In August 2005, 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Joshua Bennett returned home to Illinois, grieving the unexpected loss of his father. Ne reconnects with his mother, who invited him to stay the night at her home, but within hours, Joshua would…
Chapter 110: A Hidden Crisis-American Infanticide & The Emile Weaver Case with Clara S. Lewis
Today I sat down with Clara S. Lewis, author of American Infanticide: Sexism, Science, and the Politics of Sympathy, to examine the deeply unsettling and complex case of Emile Weaver, a college student convicted of killing her newborn in 20…
Chapter 109: The Devil Made Me Do It-The Beasts of Satan Murders
In the late 1990s, Italy was worried that Satanism was on the rise. There were whispers of cults and worshippers performing dark rituals to appease the devil and citizens were flocking to their churches worried about their immortal souls an…
Chapter 108: Secrets in Spanish Fork-The Disappearance of Kiplyn Davis
In 1995, 15-year-old Kiplyn Davis disappeared in broad daylight from her high school in Spanish Fork, Utah. Her belongings were abandoned in her locker, and she never made it to her afternoon classes. No one has seen her since. Thirty years…
Novela 9: The Highs Ice Cream Store Murders w/ Rainbow Crimes
Join CJ from Rainbow Crimes as she tells the story of the Highs Ice Cream Store Murders. On April 11, 1967, in Staunton, Virginia, Sisters-in-law Constance Smootz Hevener and Carolyn Hevener Perry were shot and killed while working at the H…
Chapter 107: The Good Die Young-The Murder of Mia Zapata
Among the legendary singers of the 27 Club who captivated the world with their music and lyrics, is a woman who is not as well known—one whose powerful voice and thought-provoking lyrics set her apart from the men dominating the industry. M…
Chapter 106: Without A Trace-The Disappearance of Suzanne Lyall
On March 2, 1998, 19-year-old college student Suzanne Lyall vanished just steps from her dorm at SUNY Albany. Despite a seemingly normal night and a confirmed sighting as she stepped off a city bus, Suzanne was never seen again. Today, I wa…
Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone-The Bricca Family Murders w/ JT Townsend & Brian Santana
As summer drew to a close in September of 1966 in Cincinnati, Ohio, something terrible was happening at 3381 Greenway Avenue amid another killer's reign of terror attacking women. The Bricca family, Jerry, Linda, and their little girl, Debb…
Chapter 104: Stalked and Silenced-The Murder of Shana Grice
When 19-year-old Shana Grice reported her stalker to the police, they didn’t just dismiss her—they fined her. Months later, she was found murdered in her bedroom, her throat slashed, and her home set on fire. The man responsible had a docum…
Chapter 103: The Crime That Appalachia Forgot-The Nancy Morgan Murder w/ Mark Pinsky
In Today's episode, I am joined by veteran investigative journalist Mark Pinsky to unpack the decades-old mystery of Nancy Morgan, a young VISTA volunteer found brutally murdered in Madison County, North Carolina in 1970. Mark walks me thro…
Chapter 102: Vanished in the Redwoods-The Disappearance of Theresa Bier
In Today's episode, I dive into the mysterious 1987 disappearance of 16-year-old Theresa Bier in the remote Sierra Nevada mountains near Fresno, California. Accompanied by 43-year-old Russell Welch, a self-proclaimed Bigfoot hunter, Theresa…
Chapter 101: Voices From The Inside-The Dublin Prison Scandal w/ Tess Korth
Today, I sit down with Tess Korth, the whistleblower who exposed rampant abuse and systemic corruption at FCI Dublin, a federal women’s prison in California once dubbed “the rape club” by those who lived and worked within its walls. Tess sh…
Chapter 100: A Colonel, Crash, and Trail of Blood-The Mysterious Death of Colonel Philip Shue
On April 16, 2003, Air Force Colonel Philip Shue was found dead in his car after it veered off a Texas highway and slammed into a tree. But this wasn’t an ordinary crash. Shue's body showed signs of brutal mutilation—his chest was mutilated…
Chapter 99: A Missing Woman, Two Murders, and a Confession Ignored-What happened to Keeshae Jacobs?
In 2016, 21-year-old Keeshae Jacobs disappeared after telling her mom she would return the next day. Nearly a decade later, she’s still missing—but someone has admitted to knowing what happened.In this episode, I expose the disturbing conne…
Chapter 98: Shadows of the City- Homicide, Mystery, & The Murder of Henryk Siwiak w/ Vic Ferrari
In this Chapter of the Book of the Dead, we sit down, with retired NYPD detective and author Vic Ferrari who has joined us, again, to delve into his experiences with homicides and death in New York City. From the grim realities of crime sce…
Chapter 97: NYPD Unplugged-Stories of A Former Detective w/ Vic Ferrari
In today's chapter of The Book of the Dead, we sit down with retired NYPD detective and author Vic Ferrari to uncover the fascinating world of law enforcement in New York City. With over 20 years of experience on the force, Vic shares first…
Chapter 96: Searching for Justice- The Murder of Kristina Hickey and The Abernathy Exoneration
In this gripping chapter of The Book of the Dead, we dive deep into one of the most haunting true crime cases: the murder of Kristina Hickey. Join us as we explore the chilling details of the crime that shook a community and the subsequent …
Chapter 95: What Happened at Peachtree Landing?-The Heather Elvis Mystery
In today's chapter, I delve into the mysterious disappearance of Heather Elvis, a 20-year-old woman from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, who went missing on December 18, 2013. Her abandoned car was found at Peachtree Landing, but Heather was …
Chapter 94: Failed by the System: The Death of Crystal McCrory Jones
On February 9th, 2023, Crystal Jones was found dead in her home from a gunshot wound to the head. Despite a minimal investigation, authorities ruled her death a suicide—leaving her family devastated and searching for answers. Her sister, Ja…
Chapter 93: A New York Mystery-The Murder of Bani Yelverton
In today's chapter, we dive into the murder of a woman that history seems to have forgotten. Not anymore. In December of 1969, Bani Yelverton, a young Black woman with a promising future in modeling, was found murdered in her friend's New Y…
Chapter 92: An Exorcism in Enfield-The Death of Kennedy Ife
Today, we delve into the dark world of exorcisms and the tragic case of Kennedy Ife, a 26-year-old man from Enfield, London, whose shocking death in 2016 raised unsettling questions about faith, mental health, and the dangers of so-called d…
Chapter 91: Murder on Campus-The Virginia Olson Cold Case w/ Brian and Cameron Santana
On April 15, 1973, the body of 19-year-old Virginia Olson was found on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Ashville. She had been brutally murdered on a campus that considered itself to be so safe, they didn't need security. The …
Chapter 90: Frenemies to Fatalities-The Murders of Missy Avila & Skylar Neese feat. Beyond the Rainbow Podcast
Together with C.J., host of Beyond the Rainbow: True Crimes of the LGBTQ, we dive into two heart-wrenching cases where friendships turned deadly. The murders of Missy Avila and Skylar Neese are the ultimate betrayal, each one a tragic tale …
Chapter 89: The Last Word-Johnny Frank Garrett's Execution Revisited
To end 2024, we revisit the execution of Johnny Frank Garrett and go over the proof that shows he was innocent of the murder he was charged with committing. From FBI reports to an alleged confession from another convicted killer, Johnny's c…
Chapter 88: The Devils in Pavilion 5-The Lainz Angels of Death
In this chilling episode, we dive deep into one of the most horrifying and mysterious murder sprees in modern history – the Lainz Angels of Death. Operating under the radar for years, a group of nurses at the Lainz General Hospital in Vienn…
Chapter 87: Murder in the Mine-The Murders of Breezy Otteson and Riley Powell
Teenagers Riley Powell and Breezy Otteson were wildly in love and looking forward to building a future together. After childhoods filled with various hardships and heartache, they finally found love and happiness. However, everything would …
Novela 7-Hell Hath No Fury-The Betty Broderick Story w/ Love and Murder Podcast
In today's episode, we bring you a guest episode from Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide. Ky brings you the infamous Betty Broderick case, a story of love, betrayal, and murder. Betty, a once-devoted wife and mother, found herself at t…
Chapter 86: Execution of an Innocent Man-The Murders of Narnie Bryson and Sister Tadea Benz
"I’d like to thank my family for loving me and taking care of me. And the rest of the world can kiss my ass.”After the murder nun in Amarillo, Texas, police are convinced they found their killer. Johnny Frank Garrett was tried, sentenced, a…
Chapter 85: The 30 Year Wait-The Murder of Carmen Van Huss
Carmen Van Huss, at 19, had her whole life ahead of her. After visiting her grandmother in the hospital, Carmen headed to her apartment to prepare for work in the morning, when she met up with a man and they headed into her apartment togeth…
Novela 7- The Murder of Sakia Gunn w/ Beyond the Rainbow
In May of 1987, 15-year-old Sakia Gunn was on her way home in Newark, New Jersey after a night with friends in Greenwich Village. Sakia and her friend were approached by two older men, and when they rebuffed the men's advances, they were at…
Chapter 84: Missing in Mexico-The Disappearance of Juana Ramirez
From The Book of The Dead archive, we present the case of Juana Bernal Ramirez. On October 1, 1995, 3-year-old Juana Ramirez went to Chapultepec Park with her family for a day of fun, however, the Ramirez family's worst nightmare would beco…
Chapter 83: A Romeo & Juliet Scenario-The Murder of Joanne Witt
Joanne Witt knew better than anyone that parenting wasn't always the easiest job in the world, but when her 14-year-old daughter, Tylar, started hanging around with a much older teen named Steven Colver, things got a lot more difficult. Whe…
Chapter 82: She Wanted to be Friends-The Murder of Suzanne Capper
In Moston, Manchester, England, 16 year old Suzanne Capper just wanted to make some friends. She was having a hard time coping with school and would regularly skip class when she would meet a boy named Clifford Pook. When Clifford introduce…
Novela 6-The Lady of the Lake-The Murder of Hallie Illingworth w/ Creepy Confidential
Out on Lake Crescent in July of 1940, fishermen come across the body of a woman wrapped in blankets floating on the surface. The body was a startling sight to behold as a strange chemical process had turned her flesh into a soap-like substa…
Chapter 81: Death in the Family-The Barron Family Murders
When Irene Paget met John Barron, she thought she would have the life she had always wanted: to be a wife and mother. However, Jack Barron was not who Irene thought he was. He was overbearing, obsessed with his appearance, and flew off the …
Chapter 80: The Cost of Infatuation-The Murder of Alex Ferreira
In a small town in Brazil, Alex Ferreira lived with his young wife and had shared custody of his 12-year-old daughter. His wife and Daughter got along well and Alex was thrilled that his daughter was accepting of his new partner, but his da…
Chapter 79: Without A Trace-The Disappearance of Wesley Dale Morgan
In the spring of 2001, 2-year-old Wesley Morgan lived in Clinton, Louisiana with his 19-year-old mother, Ruby Harvard, and her boyfriend, 37-year-old Burnell Hilton Jr. He was a happy toddler, who loved to play and learn. Still, on the morn…
Chapter 78: Love For Ever, Louise-The Murder in Room 1046
In the heart of Kansas City Missouri, there is a historic building called the Hotel President, which has remained an icon in the city since it was erected in 1927. With a list of prestigious guests, it is known for being the spot for lavish…