Facing Evil

We continue our conversation with Root of Evil Producer and Creator Zak Levitt. On this episode, we learn the true identity of Fauna Hodel's father. And whether it truly was George Hodel.

Plus, listen to Zak Levitt's new show The Set. The Set tells the inside story of policing in Harlem's 30th precinct, during its most vulnerable time. 33 of its officers were arrested and convicted of corruption, and the precinct came to be known as "The Dirty 30." The Set is a cautionary tale of what can happen when the world's largest police department fails to police itself, and how easy it can become for good cops to turn bad - all told by the people who lived it. The first three episodes are available starting June 14th, with new episodes every week. Or you can binge all 10 episodes exclusively on the Audacy app.

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Root of Evil Producer and Creator Zak Levitt joins us to discuss what was left on the cutting room floor of the hit 2019 podcast. And we reveal new information about the relationship between George Hodel and Fauna Hodel.

Plus, listen to Zak Levitt's new show The Set. The Set tells the inside story of policing in Harlem's 30th precinct, during its most vulnerable time. 33 of its officers were arrested and convicted of corruption, and the precinct came to be known as "The Dirty 30." The Set is a cautionary tale of what can happen when the world's largest police department fails to police itself, and how easy it can become for good cops to turn bad - all told by the people who lived it. The first three episodes are available starting June 14th, with new episodes every week. Or you can binge all 10 episodes exclusively on the Audacy app.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October of 2014, 32-year-old Native American actress Misty Upham went missing. Local police refused to investigate her disappearance. So community members formed a search party, and found her body in a ravine 11 days later. What happened to Misty Upham? And why didn't authorities act? We talk with Jim Trainum, retired MPD homicide detective and investigative consultant.

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16-year-old Skylar Neese was murdered by her two best friends in 2012, supposedly because of an argument over social media. What actually led these high school girls to commit such a violent act on a friend? We talk with podcaster and true crime writer M. William Phelps, host of 'Paper Ghosts' and author of books including ‘We Thought We Knew You’ and ‘Don’t Tell A Soul.'

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When a wealthy Wisconsin family asked a 19-year-old Filipino woman named Irma Martinez to be their live-in maid, she had no idea she'd be trapped for almost two decades. Her case was one of the many shocking examples of modern day human trafficking. We discuss this issue broadly with Remi Adeleke, author and director of the short film "The Unexpected." 

Pre-Order the book:  https://www.amazon.com/Chameleon-Black-Thriller-Remi-Adeleke/dp/0063238837

Watch "The Unexpected": https://youtu.be/6xUwS39mFs0

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Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind was 8 months pregnant when she went missing in 2017. Her body was discovered days later in the Red River, but her baby had been stolen by the killers. The case was another reminder of the vulnerability of indigenous women and girls in the United States and Canada. We discuss this issue with Candi Brings Plenty, an indigenous activist and spiritual practitioner.

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Sandra Galas was found dead in her Hawaii home in 2006. Many believed her estranged husband, Darren Galas, was responsible. But it took years for justice, and the family never gave up. We talk with Sandra's father, Larry Mendonca Sr., and her brother, Lawrence Mendonca Jr.

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Michael Bear Carson and Suzan Carson are often known as the San Francisco Witch Killers. They are responsible for at least three murders in the 1980s, and likely more across North America and Europe. Dr. Jenn Carson, Michael's daughter, has devoted her life to overcoming the trauma of her family history. We sit down with Dr. Carson to discuss her life experience and advocacy work.

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On the morning of February 16th, 2012, Rodricus Crawford awoke to find his one-year-old son Roderius Lott unresponsive. After the infant died, investigators believed Crawford was responsible, and he was convicted of homicide. Crawford wrongfully spent years on death row, before new revelations led to his eventual release. We talk about the issue of death penalty convictions with Maurice Chammah, Staff Writer for The Marshall Project and author of "Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty.” 

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The case of the Central Park Five is one of the most notorious crime cases in history. In 1989, a young woman named Trisha Meili was jogging in the park when she was attacked, raped, and beaten. But during the investigation, police wrongly accused and convicted five young men of color. They were later exonerated, but only years after already serving a prison sentence. We discuss the issue of wrongful conviction with Jason Flom, Board Member with the Innocence Project and host of the podcast “Wrongful Conviction."

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One night in December of 1986, Cara Knott disappeared while driving home. She and her car were found the next day off the side of a highway. That same day, a local police officer known for pulling over women late at night was seen with scratches on his face. But did he actually kill Cara Knott? We talk with Jim Trainum, retired MPD homicide detective and investigative consultant.

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The attempted exorcism and eventual death of Anneliese Michel inspired films like 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' and 'Requiem.' But what actually happened to Michel in 1976? Was she actually posessed by some supernatural force? Or was her hysteria the result of mental illness? We talk about the practice of exorcisms with Father Carlos Martins, Director of the ‘Treasures of the Church’ Ministry and an official exorcist.

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In one of the most shocking stories of 2008, 15-year-old Larry King was killed in a middle school classroom by a fellow student in Oxnard, CA. Larry was openly gay, and was constantly bullied for his sexual orientation. So how did bullying lead to murder? We talk about Larry's life with one of his best friends from school named Tiger.

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'Missing' is an exciting new crime-thriller movie produced by Sony Pictures. Rasha and Yvette sit down with Directors Will Merrick and Nick Johnson to talk about the film's unique creative direction. 'Missing' is out on Blu-Ray today (March 28), and is also available digitally on Amazon Prime Video. 

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In 1977, Charles Scudder and Joseph Odom left Chicago to build a dream home in rural North Georgia. Five years later, the gay couple were robbed and murdered in their home. The story sparked a media frenzy, revealing widespread paranoia about the Satanic Church and homosexuality. We dig into the case with B.T. Harman, writer and host of the historical crime podcast "Catlick."

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The 1992 murder of 12-year old Shanda Sharer is considered one of the most disturbing cases in recent history. In January of that year, four teenage girls abducted, tortured, and burned Shanda alive in a jealous rage. We discuss this gruesome case with writer Aphrodite Jones, who wrote a book about the murder and its aftermath.

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In 2007, 50-year-old Michele MacNeill died under mysterious circumstances in Pleasant Grove, Utah. At the request for her husband Martin, she had recently undergone facial surgery. Then, also at her husband's request, she was given a dangerous cocktail of medications following the surgery. And so, was Martin MacNeill responsible for his wife's death? We talk with podcaster and true crime writer M. William Phelps, host of 'Paper Ghosts' and author of books including ‘We Thought We Knew You’ and ‘Don’t Tell A Soul.'

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20-year-old Dorothy Stratten was a model and actress who was killed by her estranged husband in 1980. The case revealed a relationship rife with power imbalance, manipulation, and domestic abuse. We sit down to discuss the issue of intimate partner violence with Dr. Joe Hyunkag Cho, an Associate Professor at Michigan State University’s College of Social Science.

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On New Years Eve of 1993, a 21-year-old transgender man named Brandon Teena was murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. Brandon's life and subsequent murder were later depcited in the 1999 film "Boys Don't Cry." We speak with writer Donna Minkowitz, who covered the case back in the '90s, and has since written about the case in length. 

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In 1982, Vincent Chin was brutally killed in a racially motivated attack in Detroit, Michigan. The murder led to a new human rights movement, highlighting the dangers of anti-Asian sentiment in America. We talk about this issue with Dr. Lok Siu, Cultural Anthropologist and Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley.

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Harry & Harriette Moore were crucial figures in the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1951, they were killed after a bomb exploded in their home. Their murderer was never brought to justice. We talk with Sonya Mallard and Carshonda Wright from the Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Center, a space dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Moore's.

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Facing Evil is back. This week, we focus on the case of Tiffany Hill, who was killed by her estranged husband in 2019. Featuring a conversation with Rene Sundby, a friend of Hill who helped pass landmark legislation in the wake of her murder.

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Facing Evil is back. Hear new conversations that matter. New Episodes starting on February 2nd. 

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This week, Rasha and Yvette sit down with Tenderfoot TV producer Jaime Albright. On top of being a key creator for numerous shows, Jaime also works professionally as a forensic interviewer. We catch up with Jaime about her life, work, and a few upcoming Tenderfoot projects to look forward to.

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In May of 2001, 24 year-old Chandra Levy dissapeared while working an internship in Washington D.C. Her apparent affair with an older Congressman made the case a media sensation. But when her remains were found a year later, another suspect was arrested. So what happened to Chandra? Rasha and Yvette discuss the twists and turns of this very peculiar investigation.

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Kitty Genovese was killed in 1964 outside her apartment building. According to the headlines of the time, dozens of people heard her screams but did nothing. This week, Rasha And Yvette talk about Kitty's case and the validity of the so-called "bystander effect."

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The 1969 murder of Cathy Cesnik involves conspiracy, cover-up, and corruption in the Catholic Church and in law enforcement in Baltimore, Maryland. Rasha and Yvette look at this troubling case, and discuss the issue of abuse in the Catholic Church as a whole.

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This week, Rasha and Yvette look at the tragic case of Rebecca Schaeffer. Rebecca was a young actress who was killed by her stalker in 1989. We also discuss the threat of stalking, and how pervasive that issue is in the age of social media. 

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In 1973, Roseann Quinn was murdered in her own apartment by a man she met at a bar. The story sparked a media frenzy, and was eventually adapted into a book and movie. Rasha & Yvette discuss Roseann's case and the issues in how her story was represented.

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We finish our deep dive into the case of Jon Benét Ramsey.

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Rasha and Yvette dig into one of the most famous true crime cases of all time: the murder of JonBenét Ramsey. But this week, we take a new spin, looking into the dangers of child beauty pageants.

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In 1998, James Byrd Jr. was murdered by a group of white supremacists in Jasper County, Texas. This week, Rasha and Yvette explain how this case was a wake up call to many, exposing the the stark reality of racism in modern America. 

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17-year old Alexis Murphy stopped at a gas station on her way home one day in 2013. But she never made it home. So what happened to Alexis? Rasha and Yvette discuss her disappearance, and look how the media covers cases of missing black girls. 

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Director Patty Jenkins is known for her work on the two most recent 'Wonder Woman' films, and the 2003 film 'Monster.' The latter is a biographical film about the life of Aileen Wuornos. Rasha And Yvette sit down with Patty Jenkins to discuss Aileen, as well as Patty's connection to the Hodel family story. 

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This week, Rasha and Yvette discuss the complex case of Aileen Wuornos, perhaps the most famous female serial killer in history. Wuornos was subject to a life of abuse, and many believe that led her down a deadly path. But how do you weigh that abuse against seven murders? 

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Dominique Dunne was a budding actor who was killed by her boyfriend in 1982. Rasha and Yvette talk about the dangers of domestic abuse, and how the punishment for these types of offenses rarely fits the crime.

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This week, Facing Evil is in Dallas, Texas for Podcast Movement. And we discuss the case of Angela Samota, who was killed in Dallas in 1984. 

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In 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy committed suicide. But then, his family was shocked to learn that his girlfriend, Michelle Carter, had urged him to take his own life. This week, Rasha and Yvette ask the question: how responsible was Carter for Roy's death?

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When Laci Peterson went missing on Christmas Eve of 2002, the entire country believed her husband Scott was behind it. But could he have actually killed her? Rasha and Yvette discuss the strange case and the phenomenon of 'trial by media.'

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Rasha and Yvette honor Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender activist who was mysteriously murdered and found floating in the Hudson River in July of 1992.

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Tina Fontaine was a young indigenous girl from Manitoba, Canada. Rasha & Yvette look at how her tumultuous life eventually led to her eventual murder in 2014. 

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This week, we discuss the the disappearance of Army solider Vanessa Guillen in 2020. Guillen, who was stationed at Fort Hood, was eventually found dead a few miles from the base. And her killer was a fellow soldier.

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Rasha and Yvette discuss the brutal killing of Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old gay man who was beaten to death in 1998. 

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On their first episode, Rasha and Yvette take us to their hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, where they discuss the mysterious 1982 murder of Lisa Au.

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Meet Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile, hosts of the new podcast 'Facing Evil.' Before the premiere, learn about their wild family history with the Black Dahlia murder case and how it thrust them into the world of true crime. 

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From the creators of Atlanta Monster and Up and Vanished, Facing Evilis the first weekly talk-format podcast from Tenderfoot TV and iHeartRadio. The first episode premieres on July 14th. Listen wherever you find your podcasts.

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