Almost Fiction
Crimes that are so diabolical that they seem like almost fiction. Based on real events, Almost Fiction is a Podcast where we try to imagine what it was like when some of the worst crimes occurred. Using facts, reports, and evidence, we attempt to reconstruct what the crime scenes might have looked like as the crimes were happening. So, join us each week as we peek behind the curtain at some of the worst scenes from some of the worst crimes ever committed. I’m Chase Ellerman, and welcome to… Almost Fiction.
Episodes
Frank Athen Walls
Description: In 1967, Frank Athen Walls was born blue, a medical condition that would mark the beginning of a troubled life. By 19, he became one of America's youngest serial killers, leaving a trail of victims across Florida's beaches and …
George Kent Wallace aka The Mad Paddler
In this gripping true crime episode, we unravel the story of George Kent Wallace, a man infamously known as "The Mad Paddler", whose decades-long trail of violence haunted communities across North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Explore h…
Todd Joseph Rizzo
Description:Exploring one of Connecticut's most infamous true crime cases, this episode delves deep into the chilling story of Todd Rizzo, aka "The Sledgehammer Killer." Discover how an 18-year-old former Marine lured a 13-year-old boy to h…
Dixie Lynn Shanahan-Duty
Step into the chilling true story of Dixie Lynn Shanahan-Duty, a case that shocked Defiance, Iowa… and the nation. This episode uncovers the turbulent life of Dixie, marked by years of domestic abuse at the hands of Scott Shanahan, and the …
Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Finale
The chilling saga of Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Lake comes to a dramatic close in Part 4 of our Almost Fiction series. Follow the relentless pursuit of justice across borders, from a failed shoplifting attempt to a years-long internation…
Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Part 3
The walls begin to close in on Charles Ng and Leonard Lake as a simple theft spirals into something much darker. Part 3 of our case delves into the moment their carefully constructed facade starts to crumble. The pair is scrambling now, try…
Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Part 2
Discover the chilling story of Charles Ng and Leonard Lake, two ex-Marines whose paths crossed in California, leading to one of America's most disturbing criminal cases. Part 2 delves into their escalating crimes from 1984-1985, including d…
Charles Ng and Leonard Lake - Part 1: Before the Horror
Charles Ng and Leonard Lake - Part 1: Before the Horror. Explore the troubled early lives of two killers before they ever joined forces. From Ng's strict upbringing in Hong Kong to Lake's abandoned childhood in San Francisco, discover how t…
Jamie Reynolds
In May 2013, 17-year-old Georgia Williams vanished after telling her parents she was helping a friend with a photo shoot. That friend was Jamie Reynolds, a boy with a hidden obsession, a disturbing past, and a plan he had written in horrify…
Nathan Ybanez
In this gripping true crime episode, we investigate the haunting case of Nathan Ybanez, a 16-year-old who murdered his mother after years of alleged abuse. This deeply emotional story examines how a system meant to protect children failed r…
The Murder of Celeste Fronsman
In 2012, Celeste Fronsman was abducted, tortured, and burned alive in rural Ohio. Her killers? People she thought were her friends. In this episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the dark world of addiction, abuse, and betrayal, and how Cele…
Charles William Yukl Part 3
In the shocking conclusion of our three-part true crime series, we uncover the final days of Charles William Yukl, a manipulative killer whose parole failure led to a second brutal murder in 1970s New York City. After convincing the system …
Charles William Yukl Part 2
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the life of Charles William Yukl, we explore the years that followed his shocking manslaughter conviction. After serving just a portion of his time, Yukl was released on parole, and what happened next is a ch…
Charles William Yukl Part 1
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we begin the disturbing story of Charles William Yukl, a classically trained pianist, teacher, and, ultimately… convicted killer. From his troubled upbringing and intense musical training to his y…
David Roland Waters
In this gripping episode of Almost Fiction, we dig into one of the strangest true crime cases in American history, the disappearance and murder of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the woman once dubbed “The Most Hated Woman in America.” From her rise…
Anthony Edward Sowell
In this gripping true crime episode, we uncover the horrifying story of serial killer Anthony Edward Sowell, also known as the Cleveland Strangler. Between 2007 and 2009, Sowell lured vulnerable women to his Cleveland home, where he committ…
Richard Paul White
Richard Paul White’s life was filled with violence, fear, and manipulation—but did his past shape him into a serial predator, or was the evil already inside him? This episode of Almost Fiction explores the disturbing transformation of a man…
Mauricio Rodriguez Silva
Mauricio Rodriguez Silva's life was a constant struggle—abandoned, abused, and cast aside at every turn. But did his tragic childhood create a monster, or was he always destined for violence? This episode of Almost Fiction unravels the dist…
Thomas Warren Whisenhant
What happens when a predator lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike? This episode of Almost Fiction delves into the dark and disturbing case of Thomas Whisenhant, a killer whose crimes haunted Alabama for decades. Join…
Sean Vincent Gillis Part 3
Justice is served, or is it? In the chilling conclusion to our Sean Vincent Gillis series, we explore his final crimes, the investigation that finally brought him down, and the disturbing details of his confessions. From his shocking courtr…
Sean Vincent Gillis Part 2
The darkness continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into Sean Vincent Gillis, we explore the gruesome evolution of his crimes, his twisted obsessions, and the investigation that struggled to catch up. As police search for answers, Gillis rem…
Sean Vincent Gillis Part 1
A quiet Louisiana neighborhood. A troubled past. A gruesome discovery. In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we unravel the disturbing origins of Sean Vincent Gillis, a seemingly ordinary man with a dark secret. From a childhood shape…
Kevin Lloyd Artz
In this episode of Almost Fiction, we delve into the bizarre and horrifying case of Kevin Lloyd Artz, infamously known as the "Deep Fry Killer." What begins as a story of a seemingly ordinary man takes a dark turn into a tale of obsession, …
Melvin David Rees
A talented jazz musician with a mysterious past. Melvin David Rees captivated audiences with his haunting melodies and effortless skill, but behind the stage lights and smoky jazz clubs lurked something far darker. A man of intelligence, ch…
Mark Scott Thornton
In 1993, a stolen car, a desperate plan, and a shattered life set the stage for one of California’s most disturbing crimes. Mark Scott Thornton had always struggled to find his place in the world—but when his obsession spiraled out of contr…
Larry Keith Robison
What happens when reality shatters? When paranoia and delusion take hold, twisting a mind beyond recognition?In this harrowing episode of Almost Fiction, we uncover the chilling case of Larry Keith Robison—a man battling schizophrenia, aban…
Mark Dean Schwab and the Murder of Junny Rios Martinez
In this heart-wrenching episode of Almost Fiction, we examine the harrowing case of Mark Dean Schwab and his horrifying crimes against 11-year-old Junny Rios-Martinez. What began as an act of manipulation spiraled into a tragedy that shook …
Joachim Georg Kroll
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we uncover the twisted story of Joachim Georg Kroll, infamously known as "The Cannibal of Ruhr." For over two decades, Kroll preyed on unsuspecting victims across West Germany, leaving a trail of …
Mitchell Carlton Sims and Ruby Padgett
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the violent crime spree of Mitchell Sims and Ruby Padgett, a couple whose anger and desperation led to a series of horrifying murders. From the Domino's Pizza murders in South Carolina …
Julie Corey
Julie Corey had already had 5 children and had full custody of none of them. The 35 year old woman could feel the pressure of time, and was making one last chance to start a family, one that hopefully this time, she could keep. But sometime…
Ramon Jay Rogers
Ramon Jay Rogers was a nice guy. He grew up in a strange environment, but by all outward appearances he was well adjusted, polite, and well liked. Until he killed his best friend, and everything just seemed to spiral out of control. Sources…
Veronica Paz and Brandon Dante Perry
From the outside, it appeared as if Veronica Paz desperately missed high school. She missed the social aspect, the drama, and most importantly… the boys. For his part, Brandon Perry would have probably done just about anything for his high …
Jason Thomas Harris
Welcome to Season 3!!Christy Thompson Harris was a good mother. And even though she had her issues, she always did what she felt was best for her children, something not shared by her husband, Jason Thomas Harris. Welcome to another episode…
Almost Fiction Plus EP 5 William Wallace
For a lot of people, the holiday season can be a time of happiness, togetherness, and joy. A time full of family, laughter, and good will, but for others, the holiday season can have the opposite effect. Enjoy the latest episode of Almost F…
Almost Fiction Plus EP 4 Michael Duane Zach
Some people are… magnetic, easily able to attach themselves to others, drawing them in with relative ease with their larger than life personalities. There are just some people who can talk to anyone, make them feel at ease, quickly transiti…
BONUS: Tethers Halloween Special
October.You can feel it. A change in the air. The days grow shorter, the nights grow colder. Fall tends to feel like an end.Welcome to a special Halloween episode of Tethers. CHECK OUT TETHERS SEASON 1 WHERE EVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS! TET…
Almost Fiction Plus EP 3 Tyree Lincoln Smith
Rituals span across every country, every religion, and every group. No matter what you are a part of, there are going to be rituals and practices that you follow, sometimes without even realizing it. This week we follow the case of a man wh…
Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham Part 4
Welcome to the final episode of this series on Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham. As season 2 wraps up, I just wanted to thank you all for coming on this journey, a journey that hopefully is just beginning. As a reminder, names m…
Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham Part 3
Welcome back to part 3 of the tale of Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham. This is the season 2 finale, and it only gets crazier from here.As a reminder, names may have been changed in order to protect the identity of those who wis…
Almost Fiction EP47 Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham Part 2
Welcome back to our continuation of the tale of Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Gail Graham story. This is the season 2 finale, and it’s… a doozy. As a reminder, names may have been changed in order to protect the identity of those who wi…