Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

In 1872, fear gripped the streets of South Boston as a chilling string of murders unfolded—committed by a boy barely in his teens.This episode dives deep into the twisted mind of Jesse Pomeroy, America’s youngest known serial killer, whose brutal crimes shocked the nation and left a lasting scar on 19th-century Boston.We unravel the dark story behind his violent spree, explore his disturbing upbringing, and examine how a child became a monster in plain sight. Was he born evil—or made that way?

When victims are held captive for long periods, one question always resurfaces: Why didn’t they run? In this episode, we dive into the complex psychological phenomenon known as Stockholm Syndrome—a survival response where hostages form emotional bonds with their captors. We'll explore how this syndrome may have impacted the victims featured in our "Lost and Found" series and take a deeper look at one of the most infamous examples in U.S. history: the kidnapping of Patty Hearst.If you're fascinated by true crime, psychological survival tactics, and real-life hostage cases, this is a must-listen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three young girls vanish. A community searches for answers. The truth is more horrifying than anyone imagined. Between 2002 and 2004, three girls—Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus—disappeared without a trace from the same Cleveland neighborhood. For years, their families held onto hope, but no one could have guessed that they were being held captive just miles from home. When the truth finally came to light in 2013, the city was stunned to discover that the man responsible had been hiding in plain sight all along. How did he get away with it for so long? What horrors did the women endure? And how did they finally escape? Join us as we uncover the shocking case of Ariel Castro and the Cleveland kidnappings.

In the second installment of our Lost and Found series, we revisit the harrowing case of Elizabeth Smart, a 14-year-old girl abducted from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Raised in a close-knit Mormon family in Salt Lake City, Utah, Elizabeth’s life was upended when a simple act of kindness—offering help to a local transient—set the stage for a chilling and calculated kidnapping. What followed was a months-long ordeal filled with psychological manipulation, forced travel across state lines, and an unimaginable fight for survival. Against all odds, Elizabeth’s story became one of resilience, strength, and an unforgettable return home. This episode explores how one family’s faith and perseverance—and a public unwilling to forget—helped bring Elizabeth back from the brink.   #ElizabethSmart #TrueCrimePodcast #LostAndFoundSeries #MissingPersons #SurvivorStory #KidnappingCase #TrueCrimeCommunity #Resilience #ColdCaseFiles #JusticeForVictims #TrueCrimeObsessed #RealCrimeStories #TrueCrimeAddict #CrimePodca

In the gripping premiere of our new series Lost and Found, we delve into one of the most shocking and heartbreaking missing persons cases in modern American history—the abduction of 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard. Snatched in broad daylight by strangers in a seemingly random act, Jaycee’s disappearance would haunt investigators and her family for 18 long years. But this was no ordinary kidnapping. Her captors had meticulously planned every detail—and the truth of what happened behind closed doors is even more disturbing than you might imagine. How do families cope when a loved one vanishes without a trace? When do you give up hope—or do you ever? This series explores the emotional limbo of missing persons cases, the fight to keep their stories alive, and the rare, miraculous moments when the unthinkable becomes reality. Join us as we uncover the unbelievable true story of Jaycee Lee Dugard, the girl who was found after nearly two decades, and whose survival defied all odds.   Recommended Reading: A Stolen Life:

Welcome to Once Upon a Crime the true crime podcast that tells the story behind the story of real life crime.  New episodes release every Monday. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Clips from show are from the following episodes: Episode 142: Taunting Terrors: Shari Faye Smith Episode 146: Rocktober: Altamont, The Rolling Stones and the Hells Angels Episode 158: Bad Seeds: Lowell Lee Andrews Episode 149: Fugitives from Justice: Jesse James Hollywood Episode 156: Behind the Crime: Aileen Wuornos Social Media: Twitter: @uponacrime Facebook and Instagram @onceuponacrimepod Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.