Sixtysomething_S2_Ep15_New Podcast, Longtime Obsession

Sixtysomething_S2_Ep15_New Podcast, Longtime Obsession

[00:00:00] GTS: Welcome dear friends to another episode of this 60 something podcast. I'm grace. And today, how about something completely different? I was planning on talking about. Positive subject, but a serious one. And I was just about to record it. And I was walking down the hall of my house and. It just hit me.

I'm going to talk about this other thing. This. Passion of mine.

That.

I've had for. Most of my life.

And it's not going to be anything profound. I'm going to share. It's just something. That I love and I've loved for. Almost as long as I can [00:01:00] remember.

We're going to talk about. My obsession with. True crime. And how it started. And why I have it.

And what it's all about. It's a passion. I feel like it's a big part of my life. I've learned a lot about human nature and our legal system and about psychological issues. And. It actually has led me to create a new podcast. I might've told you about it. It's called crime girl. And. It is my goal in this new year of 2025, just a few weeks away.

Not only am I planning on posting this new podcast, but it is my plan to write a crime novel. [00:02:00] As a matter of fact, I've been planning on writing a novel. Like this for. Well, since 1995 or somewhere around there. But I'm getting better. At fulfilling my intentions. So wish me luck. On my novel. And I'll keep you posted, but today, I want to talk about. First of all, how this interest of mine began.

And I also want to tell you a few of the. Finer points about my interest in this subject. It's called true crime, but that's, I think that's sort of misleading. I'll get to that, but it all began. Long ago. Curtain up. Imagine. A curious young girl. [00:03:00] Always asking too many questions. Totally inquisitive. Always wanting to know the why behind everything. That was me. I was the kid who cracked open my fancy chatty Cathy doll, who talked. When I was six years old to find out what the heck made her talk. And it turned out.

It was a bunch of greasy audio tape that I could never put it back together. Oh, well, I was just sort of a mischievous kid, but. Mostly with my imagination. I would entertain my younger brother, Scott, by. Telling him that. Uh, the neighbor had done a way with this wife and he knew, I knew. So he was trying to, he was after me and he was, uh, after Scott too, because. It was just silly. Dumb stuff like that, but it kept us [00:04:00] entertained. And it probably came about because of a few things. In second grade, I discovered. The Nancy drew mystery books. Tame stuff a little over my head, frankly, in second grade, but I loved that plucky, Nancy. And the mysteries she investigated as the teenage daughter of a lawyer . Also in my family around that time, we all watched. A show called the FBI.

You probably remember it with Efram Zimbalist. Jr. And that had, you know, mysteries and investigation and law enforcement and trials. But what really kicked off my interest in true crime. Was when I was 13 years old, freshman in high school. And my dad and I are standing in our den. One wall of the den was [00:05:00] bookshelves, completely filled with books.

My mom had bought, but never read because she was much too busy raising our family and teaching sixth grade to read very many books. My dad read a few and far between. he was very busy, too. On this occasion. Dad. And I were standing there in the afternoon and I know he had come home early from work because he was in his three peats his three piece suit. I think we were talking about books and reading. Uh, As I mentioned, he, he wasn't that big of a reader, but he was a huge supporter of my reading. He walked over to the bookshelf. And he pointed out a paperback book. And he said. Don't ever read this book. Well, Of [00:06:00] course, as soon as I possibly could I read that book.

It was called. The defense never rests by F Lee Bailey. This is a fantastic book. And it was one of the first adult books I had ever read. Bailey talks in the book about. Being a fighter pilot. And relates that to his becoming a defense attorney. I love that part. And. He discusses the various cases for which he defended the accused. Very famous cases.

Some of them. Uh, such as the Albert DeSalvo

[00:06:44] GTS: boston strangler case. Sam shepherd, who was accused of murdering his wife and a guy named Carl Coppolino also accused of murdering his wife. These [00:07:00] among other cases. This was definitely. An adult book. It was very clear why my dad had warned me off of it and didn't want me to read it. It talked about things that I had never, ever heard of before. At 13. I was. Absolutely. Shocked. By the information in this book.

But I was also fascinated. And I want to address my opinion of F Lee Bailey reading this book. He became a hero of mine for most of my life, because. I do believe that every person, even days. Insane.

Murderers. They deserve an excellent defense because.

We can't always get to the truth of what actually [00:08:00] happened in these cases.

And. At the core. Of my deep desire to see the innocent exonerated and the guilty. Punished.

Is.

That's what obsessed me. And continues to. I can't stand injustice. And I really want to know the truth. Now, as we know, there are no guarantees that either one of those desires are achievable. But that's what keeps me coming back. I think to experience that. I guess you would call it. A quest for knowledge. For certainty. A, quest for justice. So that's what started it all. And. Uh, back to Bailey. Very disappointed in him. By the time. He became one of [00:09:00] the dream team for OJ Simpson.

I think. He was not the person who wrote the defense. Never rests. That's all I'll say.

So. I've read.

Fiction crime novels. And I've read many best selling, true crime novels. The thing. I don't like is I don't want to know details. About the killer, cutting out the eyeballs of the victim and wearing them for earrings or whatever. Insane, horrifying stuff. That these people do. I just want to know. The facts. Don't dwell on that gross stuff.

I don't like that. I don't want. To hear that.

All I want to know is the facts I'm more interested in the mysterious part of it. The investigation, to figure out what really happened , the courtroom [00:10:00] drama aspect, the psychology of it. And then hopefully a resolution of justice being done. it does not always happen that way. And. That is really hard to take. So. I thought I'd just tell you about a few of the cases that have really. Obsessed me.

And. The cases that I have. Talked about. In.

My podcast.

So why has.

True crime captured my imagination for so many years. And forgive me if I repeat myself here, but for me, It's about more than just the stories of the crimes. It's about. The human condition.

True crime stories force us to confront [00:11:00] some difficult questions. What drives someone to commit such acts?

As I said before, the psychology of it all. How does the justice system succeed? And fail. And how do the ripple effects of these tragedies? Shape the lives of all of the people involved. As I've grown older, my perspective on true crime has shifted. When I was younger, I saw it as thrilling and dramatic.

And now. I think more about the victims. And their families, I think about, of course, Legacy and how. True crime stories. In their own way. There are kind of history. Uh, preserving the stories of lives cut short and the battles fought in the [00:12:00] courtroom to bring justice to light.

It's my fascination. With this, that has led me to my exciting new project of my crime girl podcast. And it's given me. The platform to explore and talk about the cases that have captivated me. And share them. With an audience that's curious and passionate on the subject. Of crime and punishment, just like me. It's been such a rewarding experience to take this lifelong interest. And turn it into something. Creative and tangible. And something I can share. I think one of the reasons crime girl will resonate with listeners is because it's not just about the crimes.

It's about the stories behind them, the people, the context, the questions that linger. The [00:13:00] satisfaction of sometimes seeing justice done. When law enforcement, juries, and judges get it right. And honestly, I think that's why true crime as a genre is so popular. It's not just about murder and mayhem . It's about understanding the collective human experience. in all of its complexity.

And I also think that in these. In these modern times. When we have the. 24, 7 news cycle. And we see all of these things that disturb us. And make us feel afraid.

They also.

Make us feel.

As if. In our world. We can be safe.

I know that's kind of a contradiction. But I do think that it's somewhat [00:14:00] reassuring to watch something bad happened to someone else. Right.

True crime cases or more accurately investigations and the pursuit of justice. Have been a preoccupation of mine for a very long time . From sneaking up peak at, uh, the defense never rests as a teenager to diving deep into the cases. That have fascinated me on my. Crime girl podcast in present day. It's it shaped the way?

I think the way I operate in the world. And the way I see justice and injustice.

Over the years. There have been certain cases that have stayed with me. Cases that I've thought about return to. Time and again, analyzed. And. [00:15:00]

Revisited on my crime girl podcast.

I thought I'd tell you about just a few of them. There's the Sam Shepard case. That case was the inspiration for the future. The TV show and the movie. Shepherd. Uh, doctor who was accused of killing his wife claimed he was innocent. And you said that a bushy haired stranger. Had attacked him and his wife. And somehow he got away.

He claimed he was innocent and his case became one of the most famous wrongful conviction stories in American history. What stuck with me about this case was Bailey and his relentless pursuit of justice. His belief. That the truth mattered. Even in the face of public opinion. And [00:16:00] overwhelming odds.

Then, you know, the Scott Peterson case it's, it's been in the news with the special documentaries that have been. On a couple of the. Streaming channels lately.

 This case was about the disappearance of Scott's pregnant wife, Lacy. It was a case that. I followed obsessively. I think many of us did. It was on TV. Every night. All of the. Legal analysts. were just talking about it. Relentlessly. And I have talked about this case extensively. On the crime girl podcast, because it represents. So many of the complexities of these kinds of crimes, that's a media frenzy. Conflicting narratives. Uh, the emotional toll on everyone [00:17:00] involved. To this day. I believe Scott Peterson is guilty. Despite the efforts of him and his legal team to cast doubt. On the evidence.

One of the big cases in my life has been the Jeff McDonald case. I've explored it on crime girl. Uh, I have to. This is the story of Jeffrey McDonald, a Green Beret doctor accused of murdering his wife and two. Toddler daughters. It's haunting.

The book, fatal vision by Joe McGinnis brought the case. Into my life. And it's twists and turns have made it a story I have returned to, again. And again, And again, The psychology of McDonald at the psychopath with his [00:18:00] charm. The way his father-in-law and the Justice Department pursued him. The blood evidence that made his guilt undeniable. He continues to proclaim his innocence.

He always is. Just, you know, a hair's breath away from evidence that will exonerate him. Blah-blah-blah this has been going on for the last 20 years. And nothing. Nothing's happened. I think he's in his late seventies now. And he's never getting out. And. I don't think he ever should.

Then there's Durst. Oh, Robert. no, he was on my radar before. The couple of seasons of the documentary series about him called the jinx, which that's great. And it was very dramatic because he appeared to. Confess on a hot mic. [00:19:00] He's dead now.

Uh, But he really was one of the most bizarre figures in true crime history from the disappearance of his wife, Kathy. To the murders of his friend, Susan Berman. And his other friend, Morris black. Durst story. Is actually stranger than fiction.

That documentary serious, the jinx, it really did capture his. Erie demeanor. And his. Humorous.

Manner. And I've discussed on crime girl. How. His life was a masterclass. in evading justice. Yeah. Until he couldn't anymore.

Those are some of the cases. That have stuck with me. [00:20:00] And. Those are the kinds of cases. I will be. Talking about.

In. The crime girl podcasts. I'm not really interested in your garden variety crimes.

I want to talk more about the ones I can't forget.

Now, I'm just curious. Have you been drawn to true crime too? I'd love to hear your thoughts. But cases have stuck with you if any. What do you find compelling? About this subject. And if you're not a fan. I hope this episode has given you some insight into why so many of us find these stories so powerful.

Thanks for joining me today. And stay curious. Okay. If you enjoy the episode or any of my episodes, please give us a nice [00:21:00] rating on apple. Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, or you can go to my website on 60 something.net. And you can give me a rating there.

I'd love for you to give me some feedback on our Facebook page. Let me know what you like and let me know what you don't like. I'm building a community over there. And I'd really love for you to be a part of it. So.

Have a great week. Happy holidays. Until next time. On 60 something.

Oh, and by the way,

Next Thursday, we're going to talk about holiday traditions. And. I'm going to be joined. By a special guest. Yes. Aaron Segal will be returning to the show. So you won't want to miss that. I'll see you next Thursday.