We Would Be Dead
A weekly true crime podcast that finds humanity in the darkness, humor in the history and the devil in the details.
Episodes

Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Vampires Don't Sparkle (Rod Ferrell)
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Fiends, Leslie is back with her 2nd episode! And this one is full of eye rolls but also very heartbreaking. On the evening of November 25, 1996, Naomi Ruth Wendrof and Richard Wendrof were senselessly beaten to death in their home in Eutis, Florida by 16 year old Rod Ferrell. Rod Ferrell was the cult leader of Vampire Clan in Murray, Kentucky. He claimed to be a 500 year old vampire named Vesago, but he just really liked playing Vampire: The Masquerade. His small group of teenage clan members were also into the game and believed they too could be vampires like Rod. When Rod suggested they could all leave their mortal lives behind and join the Vampires of New Orleans, the clan packed their bags, piled in the car, and drove off. But they first needed to make a stop in Eutis, Florida to pick up Rod's friend, 15 year old Heather Wendorf, who also wanted to run away and join the clan. Little did heather know, that her plan to start a new life would lead to the brutal end of her parents life.
Click to Learn More
Kentucky Teenage Vampires
Rod Ferrell Documentary: The Vampire Diaries
Deadly Cults - Episode 1, Season 1: Vampire Clan
The Embrace: A True Vampire Story by Aphrodite Jones
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
2020 was a lot, fiends. We know that you're all overwhelmed, and that this year has taken a lot out of you. Just because a number has ticked over on the calendar doesn't mean the stress has stopped either. Now that we have a vaccine for the dreaded COVID-19, a lot of us are wondering: Is it safe? Is it effective? What about our children?
Knowing who to trust when the internet is buzzing with the current of a thousand panicked butterflies can be very hard, but let us ease your mind. In this episode, we recap 2020 and have a few laughs before giving you two extremely informative and thorough interviews (begins at 34:27) with actual doctors that cover everything you want to know about the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is so important for you to give this one a listen, fiends. We promise it will put your mind at ease. Special thanks to our guests Dr. Stephen McBride and Dr. Lisa Di Enno, and to all of our fiends who sent in questions. Stay safe, everyone.
Click to Learn More
Critical Updates on COVID-19
HealthyChildren.org
COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy Decision Aids
Dr. Lisa's TikTok
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Witch Hunt (Meredith Kercher and Amanda Knox, Part 2)
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
On November 2nd 2007 Amanda Knox went home to her Italian Villa to take a shower and pack her bags before leaving on a weekend getaway with her boyfriend, but something was off. When Amanda arrived home she noticed blood spots in the bathroom sink, blood on the bath mat and her roommates were nowhere to be found. Shortly after that, the police would discover that Amanda's roommate Meredith had been brutally murdered in their home.
In the series of events that followed, police would mistake Amanda's behavior as that of a guilty woman and send her down 4 year spiral of wrongful convictions, imprisonment and a scorching media character assassination that would change the way many of us view the legal system, and make many of us pause and think about which people in our lives we could actually trust.
In the second installment of this case we will cover Amanda's time in prison, her trials, appeals and ultimate exoneration. We also explore theories as to what actually happened to Meredith and the person (people) who committed this crime.
Click to Learn More
Amanda's website with links to what she's doing now
Dr. Saul Kassin explains false confessions
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Witch Hunt (Meredith Kercher and Amanda Knox, part 1)
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
On November 2nd 2007 Amanda Knox went home to her Italian Villa to take a shower and pack her bags before leaving on a weekend getaway with her boyfriend, but something was off. When Amanda arrived home she noticed blood spots in the bathroom sink, blood on the bath mat and her roommates were nowhere to be found. Shortly after that, the police would discover that Amanda's roommate Meredith had been brutally murdered in their home.
In the series of events that followed, police would mistake Amanda's behavior as that of a guilty woman and send her down 4 year spiral of wrongful convictions, imprisonment and a scorching media character assassination that would change the way many of us view the legal system, and make many of us pause and think about which people in our lives we could actually trust.
Click to Learn More
Waiting to be Heard by Amanda Knox
Honor Bound by Raffaele Sollecito
Meredith by John Kercher
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Blood on the Guard Rail (Jaleayah Davis)
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
On November 19th 2011 Williamsburg West Virginia police got a series of disturbing 911 calls. There has been as terrible accident, and all that remained were a body in the middle of the road and a car idling against the guard rail 3/10 if a mile down the highway. Upon arrival authorities discovered the remains of 20 year old Jaleayah Davis, naked from the waist up, decapitated in the middle on interstate 77. Her bloodied jacket, shirt and bra were neatly hung on the guard rail, and her 2006 Silver Kia Optima was 3/10 of a mile away, idling in the shoulder of the road pressed against the guardrail, doors still locked, keys in the ignition.
When her family arrived on the scene they revealed that Jaleayah had been out with friends that night, and just moments before she was discovered, had made a series of disturbing phone calls to her sister, asking through tears to be picked up first from one location and then another. What Happened to Jaleayah Davis? Officially the Williamsburg police say she died in a single driver drunk driving accident, but there is so much more to this story. In this episode we discuss a truly senseless, tragic and mysterious death. We hope that some day the Davis family finds the answers they are looking for. PLEASE visit the Justice for Jaleayah Facebook page (link below) to learn more, and if you have any information about this case please message the facebook page immediately.
Click to Learn More
Justice for Jaleayah Facebook page
Kim Davis on The Bread Lab Live
How to watch Jaleayah's case on ID
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
15 minutes in The Limelight (Michael Alig)
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
In late March of 1996 a box containing the mutilated remains of an unidentified man washed up on the shores of Miller Field in Staten Island. Little did authorities know that this discovery was indelibly linked to the who's who of New York City Nightlife, and the king of the club kids himself, Michael Alig. Join WWBD as we take an ultra deep dive into the world in 1980's and 90's New York City night life. We trace the road to the concept of being famous for being famous and explore the rise of the elusive, colorful, living works of art and influence that were known simply as the club kids. This counter cultural phenomenon would change the landscape of art, music, and night life in a way no one knew was possible, and sadly, it culminated in one of the most shocking and grizzly murders of it's time.
*There were a great many sources this week, most of which you can find below, but we will post more of the talk show appearances in our social media this week. As always, we encourage you to read more if you can. Also Glory Daze will be available on Netflix soon, it is an incredible watch :)
Click to Learn More
Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig
Party Monster on Tubi
Limelight on Tubi
Michael Musto's Village Voice article, originally published in 1996
More recent coverage by Michael Musto
Party Monster (originally titled "Disco Bloodbath" by James St. James
Clubland By Frank Owen
The Club Kids on Joan Rivers
DragCon 2017 NYC panel featuring Michael Musto, James St. James, Amanda Lepore and photographer John Simone
New York City Club Kids by WaltPaper.
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Scary Ghost Stories (Victorian Christmas Tales)
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Gather 'round the fire fiends and let's bring back a time honored tradition: Christmastime ghost stories. This episode is perfect for a chilly and festive evening. Holly is reading you the classic chiller The Kit Bag by Algernon Blackwood, Leslie is reading the festive hide and seek scare fest 'Smee by A.M. Burrage, and finally, Holly offers an original ghost story in the traditional style called Mrs. Grove. We hope you enjoy, and maybe if all of us get on board, we can bring this fantastic tradition back to life. Merry Christmas, fiends!
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Freaks, Geeks and Sideshow History (Interview: Jason Lutz)
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Step right up fiends, we're taking a trip to the sideshow! Join us as we explore the fascinating history of this uniquely American art form. Holly explores the roots of the side show and some of it's most famous human exhibits, Leslie recounts the haunting story of the Lobster Boy murders, and we have our first guest! Join WWBD as we explore the world of the modern sideshow from the perspective someone who lives it. Show organizer and performer Jason Lutz, AKA Mister E The Clown Prince of darkness, takes us behind the curtain for a unique look at the art, the magic and the reality of a working sideshow performer.
Click to Learn More
Mister E on Instagram
Dead Flowers on Instagram
Dead Flowers on Facebook
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
Better Watch Out (The West Covina Christmas Eve Massacre)
Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
Tuesday Dec 08, 2020
It was Christmas Eve 2008, and the Ortega family of West Covina, California, were enjoying the tail end of their annual Christmas Eve bash. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It appeared that Santa Clause had come to town, only this time he didn't bring presents, he brought a small arsenal. As you may have guessed, the Santa in question hadn't come down from the North Pole. No, Bruce Pardo, the man behind the beard, had driven a rental car from his Montrose home to the Ortega's house with one goal and one goal only, and that was to annihilate them all. Hang on to your jingle bells fiends, because this week we tell the story of the baddest Santa there ever was.
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Hidden (Elves)
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Every year on Thanksgiving eve, they descend from the heavens to delight children and frustrate parents the world over. Elves. Whether on shelves, at the north pole, on Santa's sleigh, or at Macy's snapping a keepsake photo, elves are usually distinctly bonded to Christmas. Surprisingly enough, though, our diminutive misfit friends only made their way into the big man's employment in the late 1800s; their dark and mysterious history, however, goes back so much further. Join WWBD as we explore a time when elves were sickness-causing, blindingly attractive, kidnapping, forest dwellers. It's time for a lesson in dark history fiends, let's talk elves!
WWBD Merch
Buy your WWBD swag here!
Join the Conversation

About Us
We are Holly & Leslie, the hosts of We Would Be Dead. A weekly true crime podcast that finds humanity in the darkness, humor in the history, and the devil in the details. Above all else we recognize that if we had to walk a mile in any of the stories that we tell, we would be dead.