Murder Sheet

In the 1930s, some of the poorest areas of Great Depression-era Cleveland, Ohio became the hunting ground for a vile, violent murderer. Unfortunately, despite the fact that this killer butchered around 12 individuals, his identity remains unknown. The Cleveland Torso Killer, also known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, is one of history's most gruesome unidentified serial killers.

But James Jessen Badal — an author who has written three comprehensive books on the murders — isn't so sure. According to Badal, famed lawman Eliot Ness — known for leading the Untouchables against Al Capone — may have cracked the killer's identity.

In this episode, we'll discuss the case and the clues with Badal, and hear why he believes Ness may have actually solved the infamous case that so damaged his reputation.

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We strongly recommend Badal's books. In the Wake of the Butcher is all about the Cleveland Torso case. Though Murder Has No Tongue investigates the strange and tragic saga of accused killer Frank Dolezal. Hell's Wasteland examines the work of Peter Merylo and the possibly-linked Pennsylvania murders.

Buy In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders.

Buy Though Murder Has No Tongue: The Lost Victim of Cleveland's Mad Butcher.

Buy Hell's Wasteland: The Pennsylvania Torso Murders.

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Today, as part of our new occasional series The Fentanyl Files, we’re going to focus specifically on a defense perspective.

In 2018, the Indiana legislature passed a law making dealing resulting in death a level 1 felony. When a person dies of a drug overdose, dealers responsible for securing them the deadly substance face substantial prison time.

But some believe that this law is targeting the wrong people — low-level dealers, who may be addicts themselves. These critics want the state of Indiana — and the United States of America as a whole — to start thinking big picture and playing the long game when it comes to fighting the War on Drugs.

To find out more about this perspective — along with information on what it's like to defend clients in dealing resulting in death cases — we spoke with Timothy Sledd, the Chief Public Defender of Indiana's Lawrence County.

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The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.

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The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover.

In this episode of The Cheat Sheet, we will talk about a cold case out of Minnesota, eye drop-related poisonings, the tragic death of an infant and two adults, and a deadly case of immigration fraud.

The Star Tribune's excellent article on the unsolved 1975 murder of JoAnn Bontjes: https://www.startribune.com/who-killed-young-beautician-dna-sample-ignites-half-century-old-minnesota-murder-case/600356670/?refresh=true

TMJ4's coverage of the Lynn Hernan murder case: https://www.tmj4.com/news/waukesha-county/eye-drop-murder-case-jessy-kurczewski-gives-long-statement-during-sentencing

The Associated Press's piece on Jessy Kurczeski's conviction for murdering Lynn Hernan: https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-jury-conviction-homicide-wisconsin-poison-bc90ddda1cc98a59b11fa6d7b2dea249

WSCO-TV's reporting on an attempted murder involving perpetrator Jaymee Cruz and eye drops: https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/salisbury-woman-says-she-got-idea-to-spike-fiances-soda-with-eye-drops-from-movie/959308004/

A piece from WCNC on the murder of Stacy Robinson Hunsucker: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/joshua-hunsucker-eye-drop-killer-suspect-court-appearance-murder-trial/275-0914986b-8c89-4943-b3c7-78986597cc66

Updates in the murder of Stacy Robinson Hunsucker: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/joshua-hunsucker-alleges-he-was-kidnapped-police-report-stacy-robinson-hunsucker/275-ec1b2387-925d-4772-9290-a1342fe54519

Fox LA's coverage of the Redondo Beach case, which involved the murder of Jaelen Allen Chaney and the death of Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson and her infant: https://www.foxla.com/news/405-freeway-infant-death

ABC 7s coverage of the Redondo Beach case: https://abc7.com/deaths-of-baby-found-on-405-freeway-and-couple-in-woodland-hills-redondo-beach-investigated-as-murder-suicide/14638057/

Fox 26 Houston's coverage of the death of Rasshauud Scott in an immigration fraud case: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/fiance-of-man-killed-in-staged-robbery-for-u-visa-speaks-out-once-charged-with-murder

This episode also cited reporting from the Estherville Daily News, The Des Moines Register, The Daily Herald-Tribune of Grande Praire in Alberta, Canada, The Herald of Rock Hill, South Carolina, the South Bend Tribune, the Times-Advocate of Escondido, California, the Wichita Eagle, the Los Angeles Times, UPI, and the Associated Press, which were all accessed on Newspapers.com.

Send tips to [email protected].

The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC .

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover.

In this episode of The Cheat Sheet, we will talk about the disappearance of a three-year-old in Wisconsin, the recent break in two linked Virginia cold cases, the heinous murder of a 11-year-old boy in Chicago, a murderous rampage in Illinois, and the revenge slaying of a man in Nevada.

Seehafer News on the disappearance of Elijah Vue: https://www.seehafernews.com/2024/03/25/elijah-vue-search-nears-sixth-week/

WEAU on the disappearance of Elijah Vue: https://www.weau.com/2024/03/25/elijah-vue-volunteer-searches-resume-wednesday/

WBAY on the disappearance of Elijah Vue: https://www.wbay.com/2024/03/28/large-law-enforcement-presence-searching-elijah-vue-two-rivers-area/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's page on Elijah Vue: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/2013462/1

ABC 7 on the disappearance of Elijah Vue:https://abc7.com/elijah-vue-missing-update-parents-two-rivers-wisconsin/14504295/

We used reporting from The Potomac News in our discussion of the murders of Jacqueline Lard and Amy Baker.

CBS 19 on the murders of Jacqueline Lard and Amy Baker and the arrest of Elroy Neal Harrison: https://www.cbs19news.com/story/50538070/man-arrested-for-homicides-in-1986-1989

CNN on the murder of Jayden Perkins: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/25/us/chicago-death-jayden-perkins-prisoner-review-board-member-resigns/index.html

The Chicago Tribune's editorial on the murder of Jayden Perkins and the failure of multiple systems to protect this 11-year-old child and his family from Crosetti Brand: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/03/20/editorial-jayden-perkins-murder-case-domestic-violence-crosetti-brand/

The Guardian's report on Christian Soto's stabbing rampage in Rockford, Illinois: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/28/illinois-stabbing-attack-suspect-rockford

8 News Now on the murder of Aaron Chavez: https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/man-watched-friends-murder-on-live-video-feed-las-vegas-police/

Send tips to [email protected].

The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC .

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode was originally published on The Murder Sheet's main feed on October 11, 2024.

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from Arkansas, Minnesota, Kansas and Tennessee

View the the Morgan Nick Press conference broadcast by 5News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUIya9tZ_M

Read the Tennessean's coverage of the Nashville district attorney recording people in his office: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2024/09/25/nashville-district-attorney-glenn-funk-slammed-state-comptroller/75375271007/

Read the Nashville Post's coverage of the Nashville district attorney recording people in his office:https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/legal/legal-notes-comptroller-says-special-prosecutor-should-review-actions-of-nashville-da/article_9d9a9de6-7cda-11ef-8709-b7aab5c8c962.html

Read more about the new law on felony murder in Minnesota at Fox 9: https://www.fox9.com/news/prosecutor-fighting-new-minnesota-law-aiding-abetting-murder

Read more about the new law on felony murder in Minnesota at the Minnesota Reformer: https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/11/15/minnesota-lawmakers-changed-felony-murder-laws-which-could-mean-the-release-of-prisoners/

Read more about the Kansas judge who was found to have violated the rights of a defendant in the Kansas Reflector:

https://kansasreflector.com/2024/09/27/kansas-supreme-court-says-trial-judge-violated-constitutional-right-of-murder-defendant/

Consider donating to those impacted by the recent hurricanes: https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/

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Send tips to [email protected].

The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.