We Would Be Dead

Silence is Golden (Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics)

In 2016 a scandal came to light that rocked the world of elite women's gymnastics. Olympic United States National Team doctor Larry Nassar had been sexually abusing gymnasts during treatments for 29 years. What was worse, USAG was well aware of what had been going on, and had a thick file of predatory coaches they had failed to report over the years buried in a filing cabinet. This is a story of a group of extraordinary children who's safety and wellbeing was ignored for a great many years in exchange for medals and sponsorships. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of gymnasts have suffered at the hands of predatory men they thought the could trust.  It is shocking and heart breaking and quite honestly this was hard story to tell, but it's so important to hear. 154 brave women stood up in a court room and told their stories. We applaud their courage and hope to do their stories justice.
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Rachael Denhollander's full victim impact statement
 
the IndyStar's initial article on predatory coaches
 
the IndyStar's article on Larry Nassar
 
Donate to SafeSport
 
Athlete A
At the heart of Gold
 
 
 
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We Still Won't Be Dead (Covid-19 update, interviews with Dr. Lisa Di Enno and Dr. Stephen McBride)

Well fiends, this is an episode we sorely hoped we wouldn't have to do, but here we are. With the rise of swirling misinformation, the delta variant, back to school looming in the not so distant future and a large amount of unvaccinated citizens folded inconspicuously into the population, it's time once again, to talk about Covid-19. We brought back our doctor friends, Dr. Lisa Di Enno and Dr. Stephen McBride to answer all of your updated questions about Covid-19 and to give us some up to the minute information. This is a powerful listen fiends, you don't know what things are really like until you sit down with a healthcare professional. It was illuminating to say the least. Please get vaccinated if you are able.
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HealthyChildren.org
 
CDC resource for families and children
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Diamonds are Forever (30 Minute Twilight)

Welcome to a sneak peek into our patrons only content, fiends! This week's episode is a bit of a diversion from our usual content. The episode starts with an opening written by all of you! We had so much fun in our Facebook group playing pass the scary story that we decided to bring our creation to life and give it the full opening treatment. Then Holly and Leslie attempt to summarize the movie Twilight in thirty heart pounding, hilarious, minutes. They both still have hives. We hope you enjoy this summer vacation of an episode, and for more content like it, come support us on Patreon!
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Tagged Me To Hell (Khalil Wheeler-Weaver)

In the late summer of 2016, in Essex county New Jersey, women began showing up in abandoned houses, dead. These women had their faces covered eyes to chin in duct tape, they had been sexually assaulted, then strangled with an article of clothing and left to disappear into the ether. 
These crimes all had a direct but circumstantial trail back to a clean cut, twenty year old, orange county man named Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, but, his victims were sex workers who lived in the most depressed parts of town. We've seen this before, so it should come as no surprise to any of us that the police did not pursue Khalil based on his clean cut and harmless appearance, and let the deaths of these women fall between the cracks in turn, based on theirs.
But that's not the end of our story this week. When authorities failed to solve this case, the women effected by it, did. In a time when we all feel helpless, and at the mercy of our circumstances, this story shows that with a little ingenuity even the most seemingly impossible justice can be served. 
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NorthJersey.com 's excellent coverage of this case. Our primary source.
 
Video coverage featuring interviews with Family Members and survivor Tiffany Taylor
 
Insight on this case and "the absence of sympathy for black women" By Raven J. James
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sunday The 5th (The Lake Bodom Murders)

On Sunday June 5th 1960, at Finland's scenic Lake Bodom, the sun had risen at 4:04 AM. By 11:00 AM the heat of the day had already set in and carpenter Esko Johannson and his son were ready for a swim. While floating along happily the pair noticed something strange on the Lake's far shore. A tent appeared to be laying trampled on the ground. Esko went to investigate, and upon further inspection realized the the little campsite was soaked in blood and four bodies lay tangled in the fallen canvas of the tent. The investigation that followed uncovered one of the most baffling mysteries in Finnish true crime history. Before Sleepaway Camp, Before Friday the 13th, Before AHS 1984, there was Lake Bodom. What makes this story the most frightening entry in the summer camp murder cannon, is that it's all true. 
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Further reading. Some details are hazy due to the translation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Boogeyman (Albert Fish)

*Graphic Content Warning* This one is not for the feint of heart or weak of stomach.
On June 3rd 1928, ten year old Grace Budd left her family home in Manhattan with a friendly old man who had promised her mother he was taking her to a birthday party. The old man had offered Grace's brother a job on his farm in Farmingdale the week before. His name was Mr. Howard, and his soft voice, generosity and grandfatherly manner made it easy for little Grace to trust him. Unfortunately Grace would never return from this trip, and the police would reveal that a farm owner named "Mr. Howard" never existed. The five year search to find Grace and her killer would open the most vile can of worms in American true crime history. Albert Fish was the monster under the bed. The most terrifying man to ever lurk in the shadows. All of his other nicknames, "The Werewolf of Wisteria", "The Brooklyn Vampire", "The Moon Maniac", fail to capture what he was. Only one title truly fits him, Albert Fish was The Boogeyman. 
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Blinded by the Light (Britney Spears)

This episode examines curious case of the rise, fall, and inexplicable captivity of Britney Spears. We talk about who Britney is, where she came from, what she has accomplished and how she got to be in such an impossibly binding conservatorship. We delve into the #FreeBritney movement and explain what a conservatorship is and how it should be used.
If you or someone you know is being abused by a guardian, please follow the link below to the National Association to stop Guardian Abuse.
It's Britney time b*tch.
 
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An official word from the ACLU
Dr. Phil's formal statement
The National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse website
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Thicker Than Water (The Papin Sisters)

On Thursday February 2, 1933, retired solicitor René Lancelin returned home from a dinner party to find his house had locked from the inside. He had been waiting for his wife Léonie and daughter Genevieve to join him at the party, and became concerned when they never arrived. The house, it seemed, had also been plunged into complete darkness. The only glimmer of light visible was the flicker of a candle glowing from the window of the maid's quarters. After calling the police and fighting their way inside the house, René and the officers discovered the bodies of both Lancelin women on the home's first floor landing. The women had been brutally murdered and horrifically mutilated. Now, fearing for the safety of the household maids, sisters named Christine and Léa Papin, whose candle he had observed upon arrival, René had the police break into their room. When they did, they were met with a sight that French criminologists are still struggling to explain today. The two sisters were sitting in silence on their shared bed, completely naked, with a blood soaked hammer on the bed side table. What drove these two mild mannered house maids to commit an act so violent and vile? This week we dig into the complicated conundrum of the Papin Sisters to see if we can find out!
 
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The second wound (resource for victims of familial abuse)
 
 
 
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Just A Girl (Gwen Amber Rose Araujo)

On October 3rd, 2002, Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was at home in Newark California, getting ready to attend a party. She put on her brand new skirt, borrowed a floaty peasant blouse from her mother, and said goodbye to her family. Little did anyone know, this would be the last time Gwen ever saw her family alive. Later that night she would be brutally murdered by 4 men who claimed to have gone into a panic after discovering she was trans.
Gwen Araujo's landmark case would go on to change the laws in California, making the gay and trans panic defense invalid in a court of law. Gwen's murderers may not have faced the justice they deserved, but her legacy has sparked nation wide change. This week we celebrate Pride month by telling her story. We hope you all feel outraged and inspired by the end. In honor of Gwen, We Would Be Dead has made donations to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, and Gwen's mother, Sylvia Guerrero's GoFundME, We encourage you to to do the same. Links Below.
 
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Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Sylvia Guerrero GoFundME
 
 
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Twist and Shout (MarineSniper and Brian Barrett & Angela Diaz and Michelle Hadley )

This week we bring you two stories, with a twist! These are the cases from our live show on June 19th. We initially wanted to release live audio, but the recording was not up to our standards, so please enjoy the full podcast treatment! Leslie brings you the story of "TalHotBlond" which takes catfishing as we know it to the next level. Holly brings you "Prince Charming" The story of a supposed love triangle that turns into something far more sinister.  Stick around after the credits for a clip of the actual live event. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported us!
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