The Escape Pod

Damsel in Distress or She-Devil in Disguise? – Ep. 12

Twists and turns abound in this episode of The Escape Pod, as we deep-dive into the story of a Texas woman and mother of 5 who claims she and her husband were victims of a home invasion and her husband was kidnapped by the three intruders. 
While there’s no one way or “right way” to act in a high-crisis situation, police body-camera footage reveals extremely unusual behavior by the wife left behind. Was she a damsel in distress, or the ringleader who planned it all? And – most importantly – where's her husband, who was known by many as a hard-working man simply trying to provide for his big family? 
Plus, co-hosts Charity and Julie reveal the people, places, or things they’d like to escape from this week, including (but not limited to) strangers who stand WAY too close! Listen now! 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1   8:21 February 2015: Husband and wife have two very different days. 
Topic #2 19:53 Investigator arrives at the scene. 
Topic #3 28:48 Story takes a turn towards the truth ... but we’re not there yet. 
Topic #4 41:09 Escapism, cohost-style. 
 
Resources & Links 
https://www.bolde.com/samantha-wohlford-ernie-ibarra-killer-interview-slip-up/  
https://www.tuko.co.ke/facts-lifehacks/celebrity-biographies/486662-ernie-ibarra-jr-kidnapping-death-samantha-wohlford-guilty/ 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDoZVqlMdrA  
https://www.easttexasjournal.net/2018/01/05/mindless-slaying-takes-father-bound-love-children-woman-wanted-dead/  
 
 
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Beyond Impaired: True Stories of Blackout Drunks – Ep. 11

“Dr. X” drinks a glass of wine with dinner, performs emergency surgery that night, and remembers nothing the next day? It happened, and (spoiler alert!) the patient knew nothing. 
We talk often on the Escape Pod about how the brain is a funny thing. The doctor’s experience is just one of several true tales of people going beyond a state of impairment to “blackout” mode. They might seem perfectly normal, but – in fact – their brains are in a totally different state. In one case, a man uses his blackout drunkeness as an excuse for killing his boss. Does that defense fly in the courtroom? Find out in this episode of The Escape Pod! 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1   1:25 “Passing out” vs. “blacking out” 
Topic #2 10:49 Dr. X doesn’t remember performing surgery  
Topic #3 18:30 18-year-old girl blacks out in foreign country; surveillance cameras show her becoming the victim of a violent crime 
Topic #4 26:35 2013: Man charged with beating boss to death; doesn’t remember anything 
Topic #5 30:10 Escape Pod co-host meets a perfect stranger who knows way too much about her – details she apparently shared herself on a night involving a lot of “liquid courage” 
 
Resources & Links 
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9424753/cider-teen-blackouts-hospital-drinking/  
https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2020/11/11/blackout-wednesday-is-deadly-night-for-teens/114860816/  
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-addiction/202203/true-story-alcohol-blackout  
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/blackout-drunk-defense-used-in-murder-trial-over-architects-death/71964/#:~:text=The%20defense%20for%20a%20man,he%20was%20%E2%80%9Cblackout%20drunk.%E2%80%9D  
https://www.rehabcenter.net/blacked-out-a-story-you-wont-remember/ 
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/higinio-salgado-man-sentenced-to-15-years-for-murder-of-architect/67093/ 
 
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True Crime Hits Too Close (Tim’s Story) – Ep. 10

Aug. 2, 2011: It’s a beautiful summer afternoon in Rapid City, SD, when three police officers are dispatched to a call regarding suspicious activity in a residential neighborhood. One of those officers describes the call now as seemingly “benign” ... at least at first. The officers make contact with four people walking down the sidewalk, and shortly after, three of them are allowed to leave the scene, as there is no reason for arrest. The fourth, though, gives a fake name, which leads the officers to investigate further. Moments later, multiple shots are fired. 
Only one person escaped the shooting that day, but not unharmed. Tim Doyle tells his story on this episode of The Escape Pod. And – spoiler alert – his wife and podcast co-host Charity shares her experiences on Aug. 2 and in the days following that tragic event as well. 
It’s a longer-than-usual episode, but definitely worth your time to listen! 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1       5:17    Career Change: Tim goes from engineering to law enforcement 
Topic #2     14:30    Aug 2, 2011: The day of the shooting 
Topic #3     35:25    Charity gets the dreaded phone call 
Topic #4 1:11:30    Tim discusses some of the lasting impacts of his injuries 
Topic #5 1:22:37    Charity explains her experience with PTSD 
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Greedy Granny Turned Serial Killer – Ep. 9

Pillar of the community. Philanthropist. Medical doctor. Dorthea Puente was given – or gave herself – many different titles over the years, but in California in the 1980s, the one title that proved true was “serial killer.” On this episode of the Escape Pod, co-costs Charity and Julie are joined by friend-of-the-show Karabeth to discuss this “greedy granny” whose love of money may have driven her to kill some of the very people she was entrusted to help. 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1    6:19 Sacremento, CA, in the 1980s: A man with a mental health condition and other challenges goes missing after moving into Dorthea Puente’s home 
Topic #2  14:31 Discussion of Dorthea’s troubling and traumatic past 
Topic #3  32:22 A secret note is slipped to investigators that helps crack the case 
Topic #4  47:24 A Lighter Note: Escapism, co-host-style
 
Resources & Links 
 
https://sports.yahoo.com/killing-her-boarders-burying-them-194503281.html 
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/dorothea-puente/ 
https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/death-house-landlady--a-look-back-at-unexpected-serial-killer-do  
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/california-serial-killer-dorothea-puente-17318261.php 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6616525/Grandson-Dorothea-Puente-laced-cakes-poison-says-shared-real-connection-her.html  
 
 
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March Mashup Special

March Mashup Special - Bonus Ep.7 (Beer, an Intruder, and a Wild Waitress)
The Escape Pod is giving you a sneak peek “behind the paywall” with this special “March Mashup” of clips from some of the Bonus episodes dropping this month. Become a patron today to hear the full episodes, and know that your support supports a greater mission – empowering people to change their own lives for the better.  
DISCLAIMER: This minisode includes some adult language, as well as stories of violence against women and just plain old bad behavior. The Escape Pod team does not condone violence – no matter what music is being played on the jukebox. 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1 0:40 Beer Bonus: Christmas music pushes a bar patron too far. 
Topic #2 3:14 The Intruder: A serial rapist that terrorized the community where co-host Julie went to college leaves a lasting impression on her psyche. 
Topic #4 8:26 Wild, Wild Waitressing: Co-host Charity recalls the last night she ever waited tables, and the nasty customer who – ultimately – caused her to call it quits. 
 
Resources & Links 
Beer BONUS Minisode 
CBS58.com. 01.03.2017. “Madison Man throws Beer Bottle at Bartender for turning on Christmas Music” 
CBSNews.com. 12.29.2015. “Police: Man throws bottle at bartender for turning on Christmas music” 
Metalinjection.net. 12.29.2015. “Man Jailed After Throwing A Beer At Bartender For Changing BLACK SABBATH To Christmas Music” 
The Intruder BONUS Minisode 
Military Murder Podcast 
Murderpedia 
Daily Motion’s Criminal Minds piece on Troy Graves 
Very Bad Men: Episode 13: The City Centre Rapist  
Excerpt from forensic psychologist’s article on Graves: https://frankweberauthor.com/blog/shannon-schieber 
 
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GET IN TOUCH WITH US: 
General email: justbecause@escapepod.live  
Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live   
 
 

Creepy Coppers & Other Stalkers – Ep. 8

Creepy Coppers & Other Stalkers – Ep. 8 
 
Summary of Episode
A law enforcement agency’s review of dashcam footage in Ohio reveals predatory behavior by one of their own. Find out how this patrolman chose his victims and managed to get away with it for as long as he did. Plus, an Escape Pod co-host shares her own experiences with a creepy (former) cop and other stalkers who had a hard time taking “no” for an answer. 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1 9:13     A former police officer uses confiscated driver’s licenses as a reason to keep meeting up with two teenage girls. 
Topic #2 20:02   Julie discusses a former co-worker whose phone hacking-boyfriend was creeping into her life from hundreds of miles away. 
Topic #3 24:10   Ohio, 2013: An audit of dashcam footage uncovers a law enforcement officer’s stalking spree. 
Topic #4 34:28   Information for stalking victims looking to escape their situations. 
 
Resources & Links 
SPARC-- Stalking Awareness, Prevention, and Resources Center https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf  
11.06.2014. Lauren Kirchner. Pacific Standard Magazine. “When your stalker is a cop”: https://psmag.com/news/stalker-cop-police-protection-danger-crime-harassment-93995  
08.18.2015. Bethany Bruner. Newark Advocate. “Former trooper used social media to stalk, coerce women” https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/2015/08/18/former-trooper-used-social-media-stalk-coerce-victims/31926239/ 
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Not-So-Smooth Criminals – Ep. 7

A marijuana grower who calls the cops when kids steal from his illegal crop; a would-be supermarket robber who posts his plans on social media; a vain vandal doesn’t like the photo on his “Wanted” poster – so he sends law enforcement a better one. 
What’s that saying? “You can’t make this stuff up?” You really can’t! 
Escape into the Escape Pod with co-hosts Julie and Charity for a not-so-terrifying episode about not-so-smooth criminals. Plus, we welcome back popular podcast guest Chad, who offers his own commentary on these ridiculous attempts at criminal activity. 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1 6:05 A man from the UK posts his plans to rob a supermarket on Facebook. 
Topic #2 17:08   Hosts discuss how the prevalence of social media plays into these acts. 
Topic #3 26:35   Stories from law enforcement about people trying to outsmart the police.
Topic #4 45:05   A shoplifter stops to flirt with the store clerk. 
 
Resources & Links 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6991115/Man-calls-police-CANNABIS-plants-stolen-charged-officers-more.html  
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-10/cannabis-theft-man-pleads-guilty-in-alice-springs/12338590  
https://www.businessinsider.com/scottish-man-jailed-after-reporting-stolen-marijuana-to-police-2011-10  
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15259996  
https://www.smh.com.au/national/man-calls-cops-about-cannabis-theft-is-arrested-himself-20031217-gdhzy2.html  
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35785834 
https://metro.co.uk/2014/03/20/worst-burglar-ever-takes-selfie-at-crime-scene-sends-it-to-victims-colleagues-4667765/ 
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-32256720
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/12/an-ohio-fugitive-sent-police-a-selfie-because-he-didnt-like-his-mug-shot/  
https://www.police1.com/bizarre/articles/top-5-failed-attempts-to-beat-a-breathalyzer-FkOWtA57zyknSoCb/  
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/florida-man-tries-to-pawn-stolen-jewelry-at-store-managed-by-woman-whose-home-he-just-robbed-6523630  
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/23/Dennis-Newton-was-on-trial-for-the-armed-robbery/7718498888000/  
https://list25.com/25-dumbest-criminals-and-how-they-got-caught/ 
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23421960 
 
 
Episode Link & Contact Information 
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Escaped Aussie Serial Killers – Ep. 6

Teen escape artist survives Aussie serial killers – Ep. 6
In 1986, four women go missing near Perth, Australia, in only a month’s time. But law enforcement doesn’t know there is a serial-killing couple in their midst until a very smart 17-year-old girl, realizing her captors have killed before, seizes an opportunity to make her escape. In doing so, she likely saved many other lives. 
The 2016 psychological thriller “Hounds of Love” is a fictionalized portrayal of what the media referred to as the Moorhouse murders, the crimes having taken place on Moorhouse Street in a Perth suburb. 
While the Escape Pod is a “No Excuse Zone,” we leave room for explanations – the factors that might cause people to do what they do. In this episode, co-hosts Charity and Julie go beyond the gory details of the Birnies’ behaviors in ‘86 and explore how these two people with deeply troubled pasts came to fall in love – and commit their crimes together. 
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions of rape and other forms of violence against women. 
 
Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers: 
Topic #1 7:28 – Nov. 9, 1986: 17-year-old girl goes missing in Perth, Australia 
Topic #2 13:33 – The teen successfully makes her escape 
Topic #3 29:08 – The Birnies’ backgrounds examined 
Topic #4 36:45 – A tired detective cracks the case with one simple question 
 
Resources & Links 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Catherine_Birnie 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4206264/How-Kate-Moir-escaped-notorious-serial-killers.html 
https://au.news.yahoo.com/how-i-escaped-the-house-of-horrors-hostage-of-australia-s-most-evil-killers-tells-how-she-fled-david-and-catherine-birnie-34371633.html  
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/catherine-birnie-the-parasite-serial-killer-who-now-wants-freedom/news-story/7dbb6c2671d66234fd63230e8e85fbc9  
https://www.crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/partners/birnie/5.html  
https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/david-and-catherine-birnie-the-macabre-and-sadistic-moorhouse-murderers/news-story/d1937accb6dfdbb6cc89074e7eb7c241 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Catherine_Birnie 
Movie: Hounds of Love (did not watch) 
 
Episode Link & Contact Information 
Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more.  
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General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live  
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