Crime Curious

In the quiet woods of rural California, two men built a world fueled by paranoia, domination, and unimaginable cruelty. Leonard Lake and Charles Ng weren’t just survivalists—they were predators hiding behind the façade of self‑reliance and doomsday prep. As their bunker took shape, so did a chilling pattern of disappearances that would haunt the community for years. This episode unravels how their partnership formed, how their fantasies escalated, and how an isolated cabin became the center of one of the most disturbing crime sprees in American history—long before anyone knew the full truth lurking underground.

 

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Charles Ng: California Serial Killer's Death Row Status in 2024 - Sentence Upheld

Charles Ng - Wikipedia

Leonard Lake - Wikipedia

Charles Ng: From Hong Kong Thief to California's Deadliest Serial Killer

Charles Ng | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Oklahoma teen Jesse Mack Butler was a rising baseball star with a dark, escalating history of violence that the public never saw — until two brave girls came forward. One survivor endured a brutal assault that required surgery. Another was choked unconscious while Butler filmed it. Despite 11 felony charges and a documented pattern of predatory behavior, the court handed down a sentence so lenient it sparked national outrage. This episode breaks down the timeline of Butler’s crimes, the victims’ voices, and the justice system that chose to protect an athlete instead of the girls he harmed.

 

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

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Parents of Oklahoma teen sex assault victim speak out after suspect receives no prison time - ABC News

Oklahoma teen convicted of rape avoids jail, sparks hearing protests

Parents of Teen in Oklahoma Assault Case Break Their Silence After Judge Spared Her Ex from Prison

Oklahoma prosecutor speaks on Jesse Butler's controversial sentence

High school baseball star who pleaded no contest to string of rapes walks free — sparking outrage from parents, lawmakers

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream wasn’t practicing medicine — he was perfecting murder. A trained physician with a taste for poison, Cream used strychnine the way most doctors use a stethoscope. Women seeking help ended up dead, investigations twisted into chaos, and Cream himself kept inserting his smug self into every inquiry like he wanted a spotlight more than a license.

From Chicago to Canada to London, he left a trail of victims and confusion across continents, reinventing himself each time the heat got too close. But arrogance has a way of catching up, and Cream’s need for attention ultimately became the very thing that exposed him.

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

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

A young mother vanishes from the quiet village of Middleburgh, New York in 1986 — and no one reports her missing for four months. Erica Jayne Franolich had been trying to escape an abusive marriage, made a terrified call to her brother the night before she disappeared, and then walked into the October darkness and never came home. Nearly forty years later, her family is still fighting for answers in a case where the truth has always pointed in one direction.

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:

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Erica Jayne Franolich – The Charley Project

Missing: Franolich, Erica Jane | New York State Police

The Forgotten Woman of Middleburgh | by Josie Klakstrom | Medium

Vanished Without a Trace: The Unsolved Disappearance of Erica Franolich in Middleburgh, NY

New York Cold Case: Michigan Woman Missing 39 Years After Vanishing in Middleburgh - Country Herald

NYSP continue to investigate disappearance in Middleburgh 39 years later

When 46‑year‑old Andrea Stranko returned home from a neighborhood UFC watch party with her boyfriend, Daryl Smith, the night should’ve ended quietly. Instead, it became a deadly ambush. Waiting in the shadows was Daryl’s ex, 35‑year‑old Morgan Jane Smith—armed with a shotgun and fueled by obsession.

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:

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Woman killed when love triangle turns deadly in North Port

Morgan Jane Smith - The True Crime Database Membership Morgan Jane Smith Fifty Shades Killer

Did killer plan murder, or was she insane?