Crime Curious

Renee “Giggles” Freer was the kind of child who lit up every room she walked into—sweet, chatty, and full of life. So when the 12‑year‑old vanished from her quiet Connecticut neighborhood in 1980, the community was left stunned… and terrified. What happened in those final moments before Renee disappeared? And why did the truth stay buried for decades?

In this episode, we peel back the layers of a case that’s equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating—one that reveals how innocence can be shattered in an instant, and how a small town’s silence can echo for years.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Petition · WHO KILLED RENEE FREER? - United States · Change.org

Renee Freer (1968-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial

Monroe police ask killer to come forward after developments in cold case – NBC Connecticut

Author pursues book to shine spotlight on Monroe’s only unsolved murder | The Monroe Sun

News 12 | Connecticut | Monroe Police They Have Person Of Interest In Nearly 50 Year Old Cold Case

The Unsolved Murder of Renee Freer: 1977 in Monroe, Connecticut — Murder, She Told: Maine & New England True Crime

CT - CT- Renee Freer, 8, missing enroute to friend's house, fatally struck on head, her body found in the woods behind her house, Monroe, 22/6/77, *DNA* | Websleuths

Monroe police speak out on Renee Freer case | fox61.com

47 years later, Monroe police hope to find who killed 8-year-old girl

In 1979, Hope College senior Janet Chandler vanished from her night shift at a Holland, Michigan motel. What looked like a simple abduction unraveled into a shocking story of jealousy, abuse, and a violent conspiracy involving private security guards stationed during a local labor strike. For decades, the truth stayed buried—until a student documentary cracked the case wide open. This episode explores Janet’s life, the betrayal that led to her death, and the cold‑case investigation that finally delivered justice 25 years later.

 

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Janet Chandler Murder: Where are Laurie Swank and Robert Lynch Today?

Janet Chandler — ColdCaseIndex

CRIME HUNTER: Janet Chandler's double life meant it took cops 30 years to solve her murder | Toronto Sun

4 Convicted in 1979 Kidnap, Rape and Murder of Michigan College Student | Fox News

28 Years Later, Justice For Slain Student - CBS News

Conspiracy of silence

Buford Pusser rose from small‑town constable to one of Tennessee’s most feared and celebrated sheriffs, waging a one‑man war against the State Line Mob. But behind the legend was a trail of violence, unanswered questions, and a marriage that ended in tragedy. This episode unpacks the myth, the man, and the recent revelations that challenge everything the public thought they knew about Buford Pusser’s story.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Sheriff Buford Pusser And The True Story Of 'Walking Tall'

Buford Pusser - The True Crime Database Membership Buford Pusser Tennessee Lawman

https://www.crimeonline.com/2025/10/30/new-eyewitness-testimony-laid-bare-the-ambush-that-killed-pauline-pusser-part-1-of-2/

Dixie Mafia - Wikipedia

Buford Pusser - Wikipedia

State Line Mob - Wikipedia

In the early 1990s, a string of disappearances along Australia’s backpacker trails led investigators deep into the eerie silence of Belanglo State Forest. What they uncovered would shock the nation. This episode unpacks the life and crimes of Ivan Milat — the man believed responsible for the infamous Backpacker Murders. Through survivor testimony, forensic breakthroughs, and the relentless work of detectives who refused to give up, we trace how Milat was finally unmasked and why questions about his true number of victims still linger today.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Ivan Milat, Australia's 'Backpacker Murderer' Who Butchered 7 Hitchhikers

Ivan Milat was convicted of murdering seven people. Could he have killed scores more? | New South Wales | The Guardian

Ivan Milat inquiry: The clues that led to his arrest.

Ivan Milat's family claim serial killer was framed for backpacker murders | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines

Fifteen-year-old Stephanie DuBay was searching for independence when she walked away from home after a fight over a simple rose tattoo. She crossed paths with two young men in a Warren, Michigan crash house — a place known for drugs, danger, and predatory behavior. Within days, Stephanie vanished. 

Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon

Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious
Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Psychologist says man sentenced to life in teen's decapitation 30 years ago is 'good candidate' for parole | FOX 2 Detroit

Killing on Jean Street in Warren (part 1), Fri 13 July 1990 - Newspapers.com™

Stephanie Lynn Dubay (1975-1990) - Find a Grave Memorial

Convicted 30 years ago, man sentenced to life in teen's gruesome murder up for parole | FOX 2 Detroit

Jury returns quick conviction in beheading case - UPI Archives