Episodi

  • The Oracle's Daughter: Inside an American Cult

    The Oracle's Daughter: Inside an American Cult
    Oct 19 2026

    How does a free-spirited hippie become the authoritarian leader of a religious cult? And why do ordinary people remain loyal to dangerous leaders, even when faced with abuse, isolation, and fear?

    This week on Once Upon a Crime, we explore the disturbing history of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps (ACMTC), a little-known American cult led by Jim and Deborah Green.

    What began in the counterculture movement of the 1970s evolved into an extremist religious organization whose members considered themselves soldiers in God's army. Under Deborah Green's leadership, followers surrendered their independence, endured harsh punishments, and lived according to the commands of a woman who claimed to speak directly for God.

    For decades, the organization operated largely outside public scrutiny, until allegations of child abuse, exploitation, and other crimes led to a major criminal investigation.

    Joining me is journalist and author Harrison Hill, whose book, The Oracle's Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult, chronicles the organization's history and the extraordinary story of Deborah Green's daughter, Sarah, who risked everything to escape.

    Together, we explore the psychology of cult membership, the tactics used by charismatic leaders to maintain control, the complicated relationships between perpetrators and victims, and why leaving a high-control group can be so difficult.

    We'll also examine what ACMTC reveals about the darker side of American religious extremism—and the troubling similarities between this organization and other notorious cults.

    PLUS: Hear the full, uncut interview with Harrison Hill exclusively on Patreon! We go deeper into his research, the fascinating history of American cults, and the extraordinary people whose stories inspired his book.

    Join us at patreon.com/onceuponacrime. Memberships start at just $5 per month.

    Featured Book

    The Oracle's Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult by Harrison Hill

    Available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. The author narrates the audiobook.

    Purchase on Amazon https://a.co/d/06SYEKds or your favorite bookstore.

    Connect with Harrison Hill

    • Website: https://harrisonhill.me
    • Instagram: @1harrisonhill

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    Sources

    • Hill, Harrison. The Oracle's Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult.
    • Interview with Harrison Hill, conducted for Once Upon a Crime, October 2026.

    Content Advisory: This episode discusses religious coercion, psychological manipulation, child abuse, and allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

    #OnceUponACrime #TrueCrimePodcast #TheOraclesDaughter #HarrisonHill #AmericanCults #AggressiveChristianity #CultSurvivors #CoerciveControl #ReligiousExtremism #TrueCrimeBooks


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    47 min
  • Rocktober: Axl Rose — Welcome to the Nightmare

    Rocktober: Axl Rose — Welcome to the Nightmare
    Oct 12 2026
    Before he became the legendary—and notoriously volatile—frontman of Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose was a troubled kid from Lafayette, Indiana, with a childhood marked by family secrets, abuse, and rebellion.In this special Rocktober episode, we explore the life behind the rock-star persona—from Axl's turbulent upbringing and repeated run-ins with the law to his meteoric rise with Guns N’ Roses, infamous onstage meltdowns, and eventual return to the spotlight.But a darker chapter of Axl Rose's family history may surprise even longtime fans.In 1984, Axl's estranged biological father, William Bruce “Bill” Rose, was brutally murdered. For nearly three years, the crime remained a secret, until a frightened teenager revealed what had happened inside his family's home.It's a shocking story of jealousy, revenge, domestic violence, and two courageous children who helped bring a killer to justice.Join us as we uncover the troubled history of one of rock's most controversial frontmen—and the little-known murder that became part of his family's legacy.Also mentioned in this episode:Once Upon a Crime, Season 6, Episode 257: Bands Gone Wild: Guns N’ Roses and the Riverport Riothttps://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s6-ep257-bands-gone-wild-guns-n-roses-and-the-riverport-riot/Once Upon a Crime, Season 3, Episodes 122-123: Murder Memories: Eileen Franklin https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s3-ep122-murder-memories-eileen-franklin-part-1/ https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s3-ep122-murder-memories-eileen-franklin-part-1/ Sources: Axl Rose: Biography, childhood, and musical careerRolling Stone — Axl Rose: The Rolling Stone Interview — Axl discusses his childhood, family relationships, emotional struggles, and therapy.The Guardian — Guns N’ Roses feature (2008)Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N’ Roses — Stephen Davis.Mockingbird — The Secret History of William Axl Rose, Part 1Axl Rose — Biographical referenceBillboard — The Billboard Q&A: Axl Rose The murder of Bill Rose, the Faulkner familyThe Southern Illinoisan — Daughter Who Helped Convict Her Father for Murder Tells Story in MemoirThe Rose Among Thorns — Valerie Faulkner's memoir recounting her family's experiences and her role in bringing her father to justice. Sponsors: Talkiatry - Go to talkiatry.com/once to complete a short assessment and get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Links: OUAC Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com OUAC Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrimeOUAC Killer Threads Shop (merchandise) - onceuponacrime.dashery.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    38 min
  • Axl Rose, American Cults & Mexico’s ‘Reformed’ Serial Killer - Welcome to Spooky Season on Once Upon a Crime!

    Axl Rose, American Cults & Mexico’s ‘Reformed’ Serial Killer - Welcome to Spooky Season on Once Upon a Crime!
    Oct 5 2026

    Axl Rose, American Cults & Mexico’s ‘Reformed’ Serial Killer - Welcome to Spooky Season on Once Upon a Crime!


    Spooky Season has arrived on Once Upon a Crime! October is Esther’s favorite month, and this year we’re celebrating with a lineup of stories exploring murder, music, mind control... and one of the most unusual serial killer cases we’ve ever covered.

    Coming this month: the troubled early life of Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, beginning with the little-known story of his father’s murder; a fascinating conversation with Harrison Hill, author of The Oracle’s Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult, about high-control groups and the leaders who manipulate them; and the extraordinary story of Mexican serial killer Gregorio “Goyo” Cárdenas Hernández, who became a celebrity and convinced many that he had been rehabilitated.

    Plus, Dark Topic’s Jack Luna returns to Once Upon a Crime to help Esther unravel Goyo’s remarkable story.

    Subscribe now and get ready for a very dark, and very different October.

    🎃 Welcome to Spooky Season on Once Upon a Crime!

    Bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes videos & more:

    Join us on Patreon at 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.
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    4 min
  • Taylor Parker — Deadly Deception

    Taylor Parker — Deadly Deception
    Sep 28 2026
    Taylor Parker presented herself as a hardworking Texas country girl, a devoted girlfriend, an heiress to a family fortune—and soon, an excited mother-to-be.There was just one problem.Much of it wasn't true.Taylor wasn't an heiress. The millions she promised her boyfriend didn't exist. And despite the ultrasound photos, maternity pictures, growing belly, gender reveal, and nursery, Taylor wasn't pregnant—and couldn't become pregnant.But as her supposed due date came and went, Taylor was running out of ways to keep the deception alive.On October 9, 2020, 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock—35 weeks pregnant with her second daughter—was murdered inside her New Boston, Texas, home. Taylor then attempted to pass Reagan's baby off as her own.In this episode of Once Upon a Crime, we examine the years of deception that preceded the murder and ask a larger question: What happens when maintaining the person you've invented becomes more important than admitting the truth?We'll explore Taylor Parker's history of fabricating illnesses, wealth, crises, and relationships; the extraordinary lengths she went to in order to convince boyfriend Wade Griffin that she was pregnant; and the prosecution's contention that the fake pregnancy was part of Taylor's desperate effort to keep him from leaving her.We'll also look beyond the Netflix documentary Maternal Instinct to examine Taylor's background and family relationships, as well as the conflicting psychological and neurological testimony presented during the penalty phase of her trial.As Wade Griffin would later say of Taylor:"She painted a pretty picture."But when that picture began to fall apart, Reagan Simmons-Hancock and her daughter, Braxlynn, would pay an unimaginable price.Content Warning: This episode discusses the murder of a pregnant woman, fetal abduction, pregnancy loss, and violence. Some listeners may find the subject matter particularly distressing.Sources & Further ReadingTexas Court of Criminal Appeals — Parker v. State of Texas (2025) The court's opinion affirming Taylor Parker's capital murder conviction and death sentence. This is an especially valuable source for the trial evidence, prosecution theory, testimony concerning Parker's deceptions, and issues raised on appeal. Read the court opinion via JustiaNetflix — Maternal Instinct Jessica Dimmock's 2026 documentary examines the Taylor Parker case through interviews, law-enforcement footage, and people directly affected by Parker's deceptions and crimes. Maternal Instinct — Netflix TudumNetflix Tudum — Maternal Instinct Director Interview Director Jessica Dimmock discusses the case, fetal abduction, and questions surrounding Parker's psychological evaluation. Read the director interviewKTAL/NBC 6 — Taylor Parker Trial Coverage Extensive local reporting from Parker's capital murder trial, including testimony from former boyfriend Wade Griffin and other witnesses. https://www.ktalnews.com/news/crime/taylor-parker-trial/ex-boyfriend-takes-stand-in-taylor-parker-capital-murder-trial/KTLA/Nexstar — Red Flags Revealed During Taylor Parker Trial Reporting on testimony concerning Parker's false pregnancy and the suspicions raised by people close to her and Griffin. https://ktla.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/red-flags-revealed-in-trial-of-woman-accused-of-killing-woman-unborn-child/TIME — The True Story Behind Maternal Instinct Background reporting published in connection with the release of the Netflix documentary. https://time.com/article/2026/06/12/maternal-instinct-true-story-netflix/Yahoo — Taylor Parker Family Guide Additional background concerning Parker's family, relationships, and personal history. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/taylor-parker-family-guide-everything-181259347.htmlThe Tab — Taylor Parker's Childhood and Family Background Supplemental reporting about Parker's upbringing and testimony concerning her family history. https://thetab.com/2026/06/18/details-about-taylor-parkers-childhood-and-trauma-you-should-know-after-maternal-instinctThe Tab — Taylor Parker Hospital Interrogation Additional reporting concerning Parker's statements and behavior at the hospital following the crime. https://thetab.com/2026/06/17/full-video-of-taylor-parkers-hospital-interrogation-is-worse-than-what-was-in-maternal-instinctAdditional Background Wikipedia — Murder of Reagan Simmons-Hancock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Reagan_Simmons-HancockSupport Once Upon a Crime on Patreon: patreon.com/onceuponacrimePatreon members get access to monthly bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, videos, ad-free episodes, blooper reels, and more—starting at just $5 per month.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    37 min
  • Mackenzie Shirilla: Behind the Image — The True Story Behind Netflix’s “The Crash”

    Mackenzie Shirilla: Behind the Image — The True Story Behind Netflix’s “The Crash”
    Sep 21 2026
    In July 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla was behind the wheel of a car that slammed into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, at nearly 100 miles per hour. Her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic “Dom” Russo, and their friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, were killed. Mackenzie survived.What initially appeared to be a horrific accident soon became a double-murder investigation.Mackenzie maintained that she couldn't remember the moments before the crash, and her defense raised the possibility that a medical condition caused her to black out. But investigators pointed to surveillance footage, vehicle data showing full acceleration and no braking in the final seconds, and troubling evidence from Mackenzie's relationship with Dom. She was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.The 2026 Netflix documentary The Crash introduced the case—and Mackenzie herself—to a much wider audience. But in this episode of Once Upon a Crime, we look beyond the question of accident or murder to examine the contrasting images of Mackenzie Shirilla.There was the Mackenzie she presented on social media: a fashion-loving, rebellious would-be influencer seemingly devoted to her longtime boyfriend.There was the Mackenzie investigators and prosecutors said existed behind the screen: a volatile and controlling girlfriend whose private messages and recorded interactions with Dom told a much darker story.And then there is the Mackenzie the public sees today—the convicted murderer whose old TikToks, behavior after the crash, and first prison interview have been dissected by millions of strangers searching for evidence of guilt, innocence, or remorse.Who was the real Mackenzie Shirilla? And how much can social media—or even a documentary—really tell us about the person behind the image?****truecrimepodcast.com - For links to all our social media channels and Patreon. Support the show by visiting our sponsors! Vinted - Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money? Download the Vinted app for free and start listing!Talkiatry - Go to talkiatry.com/ONCE to complete a short assessment and get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Jones Road - Head to jonesroadbeauty.com and use code ONCE at checkout to receive a free full-sized mascara with your first purchase.ResourcesNetflix — The Crash The 2026 documentary examines the crash, investigation, trial, and competing accounts of what happened, and includes Mackenzie Shirilla's first public interview from prison. https://www.netflix.com/title/81941710Netflix Tudum — The Crash: The Case and Documentary Background on Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, the investigation, surveillance and vehicle evidence, trial, and interviews featured in the documentary. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-crash-release-date-newsNetflix Tudum — Mackenzie Shirilla Speaks from Prison More about Mackenzie's interview for The Crash, her claim that the collision was not intentional, the POTS defense, and the role her social-media history played in perceptions of the case. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-crash-where-is-mackenzie-shirilla-nowNetflix Tudum — Mackenzie and Dom's Text Messages The filmmakers discuss thousands of text messages and recorded calls released by Strongsville police and what they reveal about the relationship between Mackenzie and Dom. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-crash-mackenzie-shirilla-text-messagesOhio Court of Appeals — State v. Shirilla, 2026-Ohio-830 The March 2026 appellate decision affirming the dismissal of Shirilla's petition for post-conviction relief. https://law.justia.com/cases/ohio/eighth-district-court-of-appeals/2026/115101.htmlTime Magazine - “The Harrowing True Story Behind ‘The Crash’” https://time.com/article/2026/05/15/the-crash-true-story/People - “Mackenzie Shirilla Loses Last Chance to Appeal Murder Conviction at State Level” https://people.com/mackenzie-shirilla-loses-last-chance-to-appeal-murder-conviction-state-level-12094674Criminally Obsessed - “Mackenzie Shirilla ‘Loves Being Hated”: Forensic Psychologist Reacts to Netflix’s ‘The Crash’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPoybP5gE8YIf you or someone you know is experiencing dating abuse: National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.Sources and additional reading: Netflix/Tudum, Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, court records and materials cited in the episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    41 min
  • BONUS: Why Did They Stay? Inside the Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy: A Discussion with Author Annette McGivney

    BONUS: Why Did They Stay? Inside the Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy: A Discussion with Author Annette McGivney
    Sep 18 2026

    In this bonus episode, Esther shares the complete interview with journalist Annette McGivney, author of Plastic Shaman: The True Story of a Deadly Self-Help Retreat and America’s Misguided Quest for Wellness, expanding on the 2009 Sedona sweat lodge tragedy and self-help guru James Arthur Ray.

    McGivney details Ray’s rise from 1990s business motivational speaking to fame via The Secret and Oprah, his blending of secular “prosperity gospel” with spirituality, and prior warning incidents of heat illness before 2009.

    They discuss why attendees stayed in the dangerously hot lodge (cost, credibility, coercion, impaired thinking), staff dynamics, and profiles of victims Kirby Brown, Liz Newman, and James Shore.

    The conversation also covers commercialization and appropriation of Indigenous ceremonies, the term “plastic shaman,” Ray’s post-prison comeback and lack of regulation, his 2025 death, McGivney’s personal wellness journey, red flags, and the Seek Safely resource

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    1 ora
  • The Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy

    The Sedona Sweat Lodge Tragedy
    Sep 14 2026

    In 2009, self-help superstar James Arthur Ray invited dozens of followers to a six-day retreat near Sedona, Arizona, promising a life-changing journey of spiritual transformation. Instead, his Spiritual Warrior program ended in tragedy when three participants—Kirby Brown, James Shore, and Liz Neuman—died following an extreme sweat lodge ceremony.

    Once Upon a Crime first covered the case in 2019 as part of our Deadly Therapy series. Now, Esther revisits the story with new insight from journalist and author Annette McGivney, whose new book, Plastic Shaman: The True Story of a Deadly Self-Help Retreat and America’s Misguided Quest for Wellness, takes a deeper look at the tragedy and the culture that allowed it.

    Throughout the episode, Annette discusses her years of research into the case, the warning signs that preceded the deaths, the psychological pressure that kept participants pushing past their physical limits, and Ray’s appropriation of Indigenous spiritual traditions. The case also raises a question that remains relevant today: When does the pursuit of self-improvement cross the line into exploitation—and how do we recognize a dangerous guru before it’s too late?

    Patreon Bonus: You’ll hear excerpts from Esther’s conversation with Annette throughout this episode. Once Upon a Crime Patreon members can hear the complete, uncut interview with Annette McGivney, where she shares more about her investigation, the people at the center of the tragedy, and what the Sedona case can teach us about today’s self-help and wellness industry.

    Become a member starting at just $5 per month at patreon.com/onceuponacrime.

    Featured Book:

    Plastic Shaman: The True Story of a Deadly Self-Help Retreat and America’s Misguided Quest for Wellness by Annette McGivney

    https://www.torreyhouse.org/plastic-shaman

    https://azdailysun.com/flaglive/annette-mcgivney-dives-into-impacts-of-self-help-schemes-with-new-book-plastic-shaman/article_42b52fe1-5d6d-4c40-9693-dd2dd468307e.html

    Support the show by visiting our sponsors!

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    Talkiatry - Go to talkiatry.com/ONCE to complete a short assessment and get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

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    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    32 min
  • Copycat Killers - Did Scott Peterson Inspire Other Murders?

    Copycat Killers - Did Scott Peterson Inspire Other Murders?
    Aug 31 2026

    In this bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime, we ask a disturbing question: did the Scott Peterson case inspire other men to murder their wives?

    We examine the cases of Lori Hacking, Jennifer Corbin, and Teresa Lane, three women whose murders shared striking similarities with the Peterson case. In some instances, the connection went beyond coincidence. One killer reportedly followed Peterson’s trial closely, while another allegedly referenced Peterson directly before murdering his wife.

    We also turn the question around: could Scott Peterson himself have been influenced by earlier disappearances and murders that occurred while he was a college student in San Luis Obispo?

    From staged accidents and disappearances to the dangerous myth of “no body, no crime,” this bonus episode explores how high-profile murder cases can become cautionary tales... or, in the wrong hands, criminal blueprints.

    Sources:

    Erased: Missing Women, Murdered Wives, Marilee Strong, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2008.


    “Death and the Dentist,” Rob Stafford for NBC News, October 18, 2006

    https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15253153


    “Thomas Lane, convicted of wife’s murder, sentenced to death,” Jared Boyd, AL.com, June 7, 2016.

    https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2016/06/mobile_man_accused_of_killing_3.html


    Thomas Robert Lane v. State of Alabama, Feb. 5, 2010, accessed on Findlaw.com.

    https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1507261.html

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    33 min