Murder City: True Crime Of Houston, Texas

Iris Siff was a force to be reckoned with. She had big shoes to fill after the death of Nina Vance, and she wasn't taking that lightly. Already having made her mark on The Alley Theatre, she was ready to push the theatre company forward and, maybe, find the next big star. Unfortunately, the award-winning theatre company would suffer two great losses within two years. In Episode 8, take a journey down "The Alley" and hear about the women who made it all possible, and the possibility they're still helping the show go on to this day..   SOURCES:   https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/15/us/theater-director-in-houston-is-slain-in-apparent-burglary.html   https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/02/17/Alley-Theater-slaying-suspect-describes-victims-struggle/2766382770000/   https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/scarecrow-cops/   http://thenightstanddebuts.blogspot.com/2011/10/ghost-story.html   For photos and more: https://murdercitypod.com/  

On our first bonus episode, we discuss the Brittany Burfield case. Brittany Burfield was last seen alive on June 25, 2018. Brittany has still not been located, but there is a man locked up for her murder. We discuss the circumstances of her disappearance and we connect her case to a couple others in the Houston area. Don’t forget to donate to Texas Equusearch at TexasEquusearch.org and send your receipt to us at murdercitypod@gmail.com for a chance to win some merch for a good cause! Sources: http://www.texasequusearch.org/missing-brittany-leigh-burfield-houston-texas-062518/ https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Police-seek-Houston-woman-missing-since-June-25-13042359.php   https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Woman-found-dead-at-Metro-bus-stop-12884160.php   http://abc13.com/archive/8360034/

Smurfette Doe was an approximately 15-17 year-old female dumped in two trash bags on the side of the road in the northside of Houston. She has yet to be identified, other than the nickname coined from the "Smurfs" shirt she was found in. Almost nothing is known about her. We know where she was found and when, but the who, what, and why are still a mystery. CC and B attempt to talk through the case and make sense of Smurfette Doe's tragic demise. Was she a runaway? Someone's disabled and discarded child? Or did Houston's infamous sex trafficking problem have a hand in her death?   http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1312uftx.html   https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/10722   https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/murder-mystery-teen-still-unidentified-4-years-later/285-352694126      

Episode 6 is a very special episode of Murder City: True Crime of Houston, Texas as we discuss gay rights and discrimination in honor of Pride month. This is the story of 10 kids from the Woodlands, and how their interaction with 3 gay males in Montrose started a local movement of the LGBT community against hate crimes in the city of Houston. Was it a hate crime or just good ol’ male bonding?  Episode 6 is about differences, and how those differences united a city and paved the path for one of the largest LGBT communities in the US to shine. http://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/ http://www.houstonpress.com/news/montrose-murder-6588321 http://abc13.com/news/parolee-convicted-in-gay-mans-murder-speaks-out-in-final-interview/1195588/ https://vimeo.com/191829411   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUCm_df2-v8

Tynesha Stewart was a go-getter, an Aggie, a strong Houston woman. In Episode 5 we talk about how Ty’s life and accomplishments were cut short by domestic violence. Who could stifle such a beautiful and capable person? Let’s talk about “red flags” as we discuss how Timothy Wayne Shepherd loses control and takes the life of a woman who’d had enough of him bringing her down. Sources: https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Mother-speaks-out-about-losing-daughter-to-abuse-9546683.php   http://stoprelationshipabuse.org/educated/barriers-to-leaving-an-abusive-relationship/ https://www.leagle.com/decision/intxco20110111524   https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle-sunday/20070401/281930243532109

We conclude Leon "The Loser" Jacob and Valerie McDaniel's story in Episode 4. Their story is full of twists and turns and the trial brings all the dark corners to light. Was Valerie being used by a narcissist Leon so he elevate himself? Leon's trial is full of tension and disputes, but at the end of the day, justice prevails. Join us and discuss his disgusting behavior and the sad conclusion to Valerie's legacy.   Sources: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Murder-for-hire-suspect-likened-to-angel-on-11028114.php?t=9d134ce263&cmpid=premartcl   https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-councilman-Kubosh-alerted-police-to-11037793.php   https://www.click2houston.com/news/valerie-mcdaniels-messages-she-wanted-kprc2-to-share   Trial Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=leon+jacob+trial  

In Episode 3, we dive into the life of the ultimate narcissist, Leon Jacob. He came from a well-off Houston area family with every opportunity to thrive, but nothing was ever enough. His controlling personality would start causing destruction to all aspects his life. Meanwhile, Valerie McDaniel was living the dream: successful veterinary clinic, West University home, beach houses, and a happy, loving family. How do these two people connect and what leads to their ultimate loss of control?   Sources: http://www.khou.com/article/news/local/a-look-into-murder-for-hire-suspects-troubled-past/426333841 https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Couple-accused-of-hiring-hitman-to-kill-their-10997966.php https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Police-nab-Houston-veterinarian-and-her-boyfriend-10999287.php?t=956b805291438d9cbb&cmpid=email-premium#photo-12543440  

For Episode 2, Houston earns its name “Murder City”. With over 500 homicides for the year Houston police are overwhelmed. On October 3, 1979 (six weeks after Episode 1) the department is tested once again, and once again fails. Robert Spagenberger and Joann Huffman were two teenagers in love with their whole lives ahead of them. What happened on that night that would make their lives a part of Houston’s lore, even now, 40 years later. Join B and CC as we break down what we know, what we think, and hear from the victim’s families as they recall these tragic events that will forever leave a dark mark on their lives.   Sources: https://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?168487-TX-Multiple-Decapitated-Victims-Houston-1979 https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/12/archives/murder-in-record-numbers-is-worrying-houston-chief-predicts-no.html Houston Chronicle Archives

In our debut episode we take you back to 1979 in Houston, Texas to revisit one of the most gruesome, unsolved mysteries of our city's history. Alys Rankin, Mary Calcutta, and Doris Armstrong were all brutally attacked in their own homes, and with no leads the crimes remain unsolved to this day. B and CC explore the details and attempt to make connections... or break them. For 40 years, three families have been in pain. For 40 years, at least one person responsible has been walking our streets. Join Murder City: True Crime of Houston, Texas in our attempt at bringing these cases back into the light and get justice for the families of these three women.   Sources: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Horrific-killings-in-1979-left-bodies-headless-3467505.php http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/08/17/Murder-victim-Mary-Michael-Calcutta-s-family-just-can-t-let-go-even-after-30-years/stories/200908170197 Lockhart Post-Register (Lockhart, Texas) 30 Aug 1979

Murder City: True Crime of Houston, Texas would like you to join in our excitement as we gear up closer and closer to launch! A true crime podcast focused exclusively on the Houston Metro area. With no shortage of case material, we've made it our mission to spotlight some of these forgotten stories and to give the victims and families another chance for justice and closure.