Fruitloops: Serial Killers of Color

In this remastered episode from 2018, Beth and Wendy take a deep dive into the life and crimes of Charles Ng, a Hong Kong-born serial killer who, alongside Leonard Lake, was responsible for a horrific series of kidnappings, torture, and murders at a remote property in Northern California. The pair are suspected of killing as many as 25 people, and Ng was ultimately convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to death.

While much has been said about Leonard Lake (you know, the white guy), this episode puts the spotlight on Charles Ng. We explore his early life, his path to...

On March 2, 2008, a quiet Memphis neighborhood became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy. Six people, including two children, were brutally murdered inside a home on Lester Street, while three other children were left seriously injured. The killer wasn't a stranger lurking in the shadows. He was someone the family knew and trusted.

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth dive into the life and crimes of Jessie Dotson Jr., the man convicted of the horrific Lester Street Massacre. We explore his troubled past, the events leading up to the murders, the investigation, and the courageous young...

In this special Halloween episode, Beth and Wendy dive into the disturbing story of Takahiro Shiraishi, Japan’s notorious “Twitter Killer.” Using social media to target vulnerable young people who had expressed suicidal thoughts, Shiraishi lured nine victims to his apartment, where he murdered them. When police finally caught up with him on Halloween 2017, they made a horrifying discovery.

We explore Shiraishi’s early life, aspects of Japanese culture, his victims, and the crimes. Originally recorded in 2018, this remastered episode includes an update on Shiraishi’s conviction and execution in June 2025.

This episode was researched, scripted...

In the summer of 1984, Alton Coleman and Debra Brown embarked on a seven-week crime spree that left a trail of terror across six Midwestern states. Together, they committed a series of kidnappings, robberies, sexual assaults, and murders, leaving eight people dead, including children.

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth dive into the disturbing lives and crimes of this deadly duo, exploring their backgrounds, their violent partnership, and the investigation that finally brought their killing spree to an end. Along the way, we examine the social and racial dynamics surrounding the case, what may have driven...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth dive into the disturbing story of Maury Travis, the St. Louis serial killer who tortured and murdered women while recording his crimes on videotape. We explore his early life, the murders, and the shocking clue that ultimately led investigators straight to his door.

Along the way, we examine the history of St. Louis, the impact of racism, poverty, and the crack epidemic, and how vulnerable women became targets for a predator hiding in plain sight. We also discuss what may have driven Travis to kill and share our takeaways.<...

In the mid-1990s, women along Miami’s Tamiami Trail were disappearing - and turning up dead. As the bodies mounted, police realized they weren’t looking at isolated murders. A serial killer was hunting along the neon-lit streets of Miami.

This week on Fruitloops: Deadly Trail, the story of Rory Enrique Conde, the victims he targeted, and the woman who escaped and helped bring his killing spree to an end.

This remastered episode from 2018 was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Until next time... look alive y’all, it's c...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Beth and Wendy revisit the disturbing story of Swift Runner, a Cree man who murdered and cannibalized members of his family in 1879 - and blamed the Wendigo.

We explore the legend, “Wendigo psychosis,” and what may have driven Swift Runner to commit the unthinkable.

This episode was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Until next time... look alive y’all, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Fac...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth revisit one of the most horrifying crime sprees in Wichita history. In December 2000, brothers Reginald and Jonathan Carr unleashed days of robbery, abduction, sexual assault, and murder, culminating in a brutal night that left five friends fighting for their lives, and one woman making an extraordinary escape.

This is the story of the crimes, the victims, the survivor who helped bring the killers to justice, and the case that became known as the Wichita Massacre.

This episode was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth revisit the case of Kimberly McCarthy, a Texas woman whose seemingly ordinary visit to her elderly neighbor’s home ended in a brutal murder.

But Dorothy Booth wasn’t the only woman whose death would be linked to McCarthy. Investigators soon uncovered connections to two other elderly victims - and a trail that would ultimately lead McCarthy to Texas death row and a grim place in the state’s history.

This episode was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Until next time...

Three men in Josephine Gray’s life ended up dead, and each time, Josephine collected the insurance money. Suspected of murder but never convicted of it, she seemed to stay one step ahead of investigators for decades. So how did authorities finally stop her?

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth unravel the strange and twisted story of the woman at the center of it all, because apparently, Everybody Loves Josephine.

This episode was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Until next time... look alive y’all, it's craz...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Beth and Wendy discuss Timothy Wilson Spencer, the “Southside Strangler,” who raped and murdered four women during an 11-week killing spree in Virginia in 1987. Even more disturbing? Most of the murders happened while Spencer was living in a halfway house, striking on weekends when he was signed out.

Spencer never confessed, and investigators had little evidence tying him to the crimes until a groundbreaking new technology changed everything. DNA from the crime scenes matched Spencer, making him the first serial killer in the U.S. convicted using DNA evidence.

This epis...

In this remastered episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth revisit the chilling case of the Sunday Morning Slasher - a killer who attacked and murdered women across Michigan and Texas, leaving behind crimes that initially appeared to have no connection.

Behind the violence was Carl Eugene “Coral” Watts, a serial killer who claimed he was destroying the “evil” he believed he saw in his victims.

But perhaps the most shocking part of Watts’ story came after he was caught. A controversial plea deal granted him immunity for the murders he confessed to—and eventually left authorities scrambling t...

For years, women disappeared from the streets of Cleveland, many of their cases receiving little attention. Then, in 2009, police entered Anthony Sowell’s home on Imperial Avenue and discovered the remains of 11 women.

In this rewind episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth examine the crimes of the so-called Cleveland Strangler, the women whose lives he took, the survivors who tried to sound the alarm, and the failures that allowed a killer to hide in plain sight.

This episode was researched, scripted & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Until next time... look alive y’...

Jake Bird, later dubbed the Tacoma Axe Killer, was born in rural Louisiana and claimed he couldn't even remember the name of his hometown. After his arrest in 1947 for the brutal axe murders of Bertha and Beverly Kludt in Tacoma, Washington, Bird confessed to dozens of killings across the United States, claiming responsibility for as many as 44 murders. While many of those confessions remain unverified, Bird was once considered America's most prolific serial killer.

In this rewind episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth examine Bird's violent crimes, the truth behind his astonishing confessions, and the eerie legend that...

No Safe Harbor

For years, men disappeared into the night across Virginia's Hampton Roads region. Their bodies were found along lonely roads, in vacant lots, and in secluded places, leaving investigators convinced a serial killer was stalking the area. 

In this rewind episode from 2018, Wendy & Beth examine the murders, the investigation that spanned nearly a decade, and the case against Elton Manning Jackson - a man convicted of one murder but believed by authorities to be responsible for many more. Did police finally stop a serial killer, or does the truth remain hidden beneath the s...

For more than a decade, women were found murdered along and around Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles. Many of the victims were vulnerable, and their deaths received little attention. As the years passed, the killer continued to stalk the streets while the cases remained unsolved.

In this rewind episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth examine the crimes of Chester Turner, the man later identified through DNA as one of Los Angeles' most prolific serial killers. They explore the devastating impact on the victims and their families, the investigative failures that allowed the murders to continue, and the...

In the early 1900s, a series of horrific axe murders terrorized families across Louisiana and Texas, leaving entire households slaughtered in their beds. The investigation eventually led authorities to a young black woman named Clementine Barnabet, who confessed to dozens of killings and claimed they were carried out on behalf of a secret religious cult known as the "Church of Sacrifice."

But was she telling the truth?

In this rewind episode from 2018, Wendy and Beth explore one of America's most mysterious true crime cases. They examine the brutal murders, Barnabet's shocking confessions, and the many...

On a quiet August night in 1991, nine people were murdered inside a peaceful Buddhist temple in Waddell, Arizona, in one of the state's deadliest mass killings.

In this rewind episode from 2022, Wendy & Beth examine the shocking massacre, the investigation that spiraled into false confessions and wrongful arrests, and the lingering questions about whether the right men were ultimately held responsible.

This episode was researched & edited by Wendy & Beth Williams.

Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! Until next time... look alive y’all, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us: Our Fa...

It's Fruitloops' 8th anniversary!

Join Wendy and Beth as they look back on eight years of researching, recording, and sharing the stories that have made Fruitloops what it is today. From unforgettable cases and behind-the-scenes moments to the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected lessons along the way, they're reflecting on the journey that brought them here.

They'll talk about the highs, the lows, what it's really like to create an independent podcast for nearly a decade, and what's next. Whether you've been with us since the beginning or you're a newer Fruity, this is an episode...

In 1995, Annette Williams claimed she was pregnant. There was just one problem - she wasn't. As the months passed and her lie unraveled, she and her boyfriend, Fedell Caffey, made a horrifying decision. They would take someone else's baby.

Their victim was 28-year-old Debra Evans, who was nine months pregnant. The brutal attack that followed left three people dead and a newborn fighting for survival after being cut from his mother's womb.

Join Wendy and Beth for this rewind episode from 2023 as they examine one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases of fetal abduction...

Before there was Bonnie and Clyde, Brazil had Maria Bonita and Lampião. Known as the King and Queen of the Cangaço, they led a notorious band of outlaws across Brazil’s rugged northeast during the 1920s and 1930s. To some, they were ruthless criminals. To others, they were folk heroes who challenged the powerful and became legends.

In this rewind episode from 2023, we explore the love story, violence, myths, and bloody end of the couple who became Brazil’s most famous outlaws.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Min...

In 1996, Sally Snowden McKay and her nephew, blues musician Lee Baker, were murdered at the historic Snowden estate on Horseshoe Lake. A teenager named Travis Santay Lewis was charged and convicted of the murders. Despite the unimaginable loss, Sally’s daughter, Martha, chose forgiveness, and when Lewis was released from prison 23 years later, Martha gave him a second chance. But that decision would lead to another devastating tragedy. 

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thu...

Back in March 2025, in honor of Women's History Month, Wendy & Beth gathered for Video Club to discuss the documentary Knock Down the House.

The film follows four women from very different backgrounds - a Bronx bartender, a coal miner's daughter from West Virginia, a grieving mother in Nevada, and a nurse in Missouri - as they launch grassroots campaigns to challenge powerful, long-established members of Congress. Through determination, community organizing, and a willingness to take on the political establishment, they fight for a chance to bring new voices to Washington. Their journeys culminate in one of the...

In 1985, Fort Worth, Texas, was rocked by a violent crime spree carried out by two brothers: Ronald Keith Allridge and James Vernon Allridge III. What began as armed robberies quickly escalated into cold-blooded murder, leaving multiple victims dead.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/

We are also on...

This week on Love You, Bye, Wendy & Beth cover a little bit of everything - from spring cleaning, nostalgia, and personal updates to conversations about safety, social justice, media coverage, mental health, and the ways true crime intersects with larger societal issues. As always, it’s an honest, thoughtful, and sometimes chaotic conversation filled with humor, stories, and real talk. 

Look alive, y’all, it’s crazy out there!

How Not to Get Murdered:

If you are in danger or need support, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 o...

Between December 1965 and December 9, 1966, fear gripped Cincinnati as a killer stalked the city’s streets, leaving seven women dead. As panic spread and pressure mounted, investigators focused on local resident Posteal Laskey Jr., who was arrested on December 9, 1966, for one of the murders and later convicted. Though never charged in the other six deaths, police and the media quickly linked them all to him.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next ti...

San Diego, 1985. Women were disappearing, and fear spread as bodies began turning up in dumpsters across the city near El Cajon Boulevard. The man later identified as Bryan Maurice Jones would become one of San Diego’s most disturbing killers. This week on Fruitloops, we dive into the crimes, the investigation, and the lives that should never be forgotten.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us: Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our di...

Back in February 2025, Fruitloops Video Club watched and discussed the powerful documentary 4 Little Girls by Spike Lee.

The film examines the horrific 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, where four young Black girls, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, were murdered in an act of racist terrorism carried out by members of a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated group. Through archival footage and emotional interviews, the documentary explores not only the tragedy itself, but the broader fight for Civil Rights in America.

It’s a heartbreaking, important, and deeply impactful do...

Wendy & Beth are catching up with personal stories, true crime updates, and the kind of conversations only they can have. From library adventures and card games to self-care through nature and gardening. Plus: Long Island serial killer case updates, community goats preventing wildfires, The Testaments on Hulu, and recent cases involving Ashley Janay and Cesar Chavez allegations.

Look alive, y’all, it’s crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/

We are...

In 1992, 18-year-old Katie Rackliff was murdered in Surrey, England, in a random, brutal attack. For years, police believed the killer was an adult man. The truth was shocking: the killer was a 12-year-old named Sharon Carr. She was later convicted, becoming one of the youngest female murderers in UK history.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us...

This week, Wendy, Beth & Minnie are getting real about everything - from the chaos of current events to personal updates. The plan was to review the powerful documentary MLK/FBI, but thanks to some technical hiccups, it turned into a classic LYB episode. They unpack political unrest, reflect on history, and share how they’re coping (and surviving) through turbulent times. Love you, bye!

Music

“Precinct Lullaby” & “Blue Light Special” by Marlene Miller. Used with permission. Find her Facebook and Instagram under SEMNCHY or [email protected]

“Calling” by Caslo. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/caslo...

This week, Wendy & Beth dive into the disturbing case of Ana María Ruíz Villeda and Rodolfo Infante Jiménez, the 1991 duo known as “The Sadists of Matamoros.” Their brutal crimes shocked northern Mexico and made headlines as one of the country’s first serial-killer pairs.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook...

Join Wendy & Beth for spring break stories, seasonal changes, and plenty of Fruitie love! They read listener letters, share what they’re watching, talk Oscars & Jill Scott, and cover true crime - Afro Man, a DoorDash case, and the Kouri Richins trial. Real talk, laughs, and safety tips. Love you, bye!

This episode was edited by Minnie Williams.

Look alive, y’all, it’s crazy out there!

Where to find us:

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitloopspod/

...

Jason Alan Thornburg is a convicted serial killer linked to murders in Texas and Arizona between 2017 and 2021. He gained national attention for the 2021 Fort Worth-area killings, where victims were dismembered and burned - and for claiming the crimes were “ritual sacrifices.”

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Where to find us: Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is F...

Fruities, you’re part of the show this week! Wendy & Beth are joined by listeners for a lively, heartfelt convo - covering CrimeCon plans, true crime (👀 Kouri Richins), and real-world issues impacting our communities. They reflect on Jesse Jackson’s legacy, honor Dr. Linda Davis, and discuss the impact of ICE and detained children, while also sharing joy. Plus: safety tips, media recs, and lots of love for this amazing community. Love you, bye!

This episode was edited by Minnie Williams.

Look alive, y’all, it’s crazy out there!

CrimeCon Discount Code: FRUITLOOPS1...

In late 2017, a wave of random, deadly shootings swept through the Phoenix metro area. With no clear pattern and no warning, lives were taken in an unfolding spree that left a community shaken and searching for answers.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod and our discussion group is Fruitloopspod Discussion on Facebook; https://www.facebook...

Back in November 2024 for Video Club, Wendy, Beth & Minnie reviewed the documentary Demon House - because Sef really, really wanted us to… and we love Sef, so of course we did!

The documentary follows paranormal investigator Zak Bagans after he buys a supposedly haunted Indiana home sight unseen, dubbed a “Portal to Hell.”

The trio digs into the Ammons family’s story, the film’s presentation, Bagans’ narration, and the bigger cultural implications. They talk trauma, the role of authorities, the lack of solid scientific evidence, and whether the documentary handled such serious themes responsibly.

Let’s...

Hey Fruities! Wendy & Beth are serving up one of those chats that feels like catching up with your friends.

They’re talking money moves, travel dreams, work chaos, listener letters (you know we LOVE your tea), and wandering through culture, history, and the Benito Bowl. Plus media recs, current events, and some real talk about relationships, race, and doing the work to keep learning and showing up better.

It’s thoughtful, it’s a little spicy, and it’s all about using your power - including where you spend those dollars.

Resist and Unsubscr...

In 1972, Chicago prosecutors charged nine Black men with the murders of multiple white victims, including two entire families, alleging the killings were part of a nationwide conspiracy tied to a shadowy, all-Black terrorist organization known as De Mau Mau - a claim that fueled widespread panic across the country.

This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.

Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time... look alive guys, it's crazy out there!

Our Facebook page is Fruitloopspod...

Beth & Wendy are back together after a little break, and it’s one of those cozy, thoughtful catch-ups you didn’t know you needed!

They talk real-life stuff (new-year burnout, work-life balance), lean into what brings them joy, dip into pop culture, react to current events, and read listener letters that remind us why community matters so much. Add in some laughs, light news, and personal stories, and you’ve got a warm, reflective episode that still knows how to have fun. Come for the cultural commentary, stay for the joy!

This episode was edited by Min...