Show Notes
Ted Bundy is often remembered as charming, intelligent, and dangerously persuasive—a serial killer who outsmarted investigators and manipulated everyone around him. But how much of that story is myth? In this introductory episode of Ted Bundy for the Defense, we set the stage for a three-part series that examines Bundy not through the lens of legend, but through the courtroom—where his greatest gamble wasn’t murder, but his decision to represent himself. Bundy believed he was smarter than his attorneys, smarter than prosecutors, and smarter than the system itself. That belief would lead him to take control of his own defense in multiple trials across three states—Utah, Colorado, and Florida—with consequences he never fully grasped. We’ll begin by debunking some of the most persistent myths surrounding Ted Bundy, including his so-called charisma, his alleged brilliance, and the idea that he was always one step ahead of law enforcement. We’ll also preview the most disturbing and surreal moments from his trials—moments where Bundy used cross-examinations to force witnesses to describe the aftermath of his crimes in graphic detail, stunning jurors and revealing far more about Bundy than he intended. This series isn’t about glorifying a killer. It’s about exposing how arrogance, control, and self-delusion helped lead Ted Bundy to the electric chair. Coming Up in This Series: Part One: We trace Bundy’s crimes from the early 1970s through his 1976 Utah trial for the attempted kidnapping of Carol DaRonch—the first time Bundy insisted on defending himself in court, and the first major crack in his self-image. Part Two: As investigators in the Pacific Northwest quietly connect the dots between multiple murders, Bundy is arrested in Colorado for the murder of Caryn Campbell. Given access to a law library while preparing his own defense, Bundy makes a decision that allows him to escape—again—and flee to Florida. Part Three: We follow Bundy to Florida, where his violence escalates with the Chi Omega sorority house murders, the attack on Cheryl Thomas, and the murder of twelve-year-old Kimberly Leach. The series concludes with Bundy’s capital murder trials in 1979 and 1980, where his courtroom performances ultimately become his undoing. Ted Bundy for the Defense explores what happens when a defendant becomes his own worst enemy—and when belief in one’s own brilliance proves fatal.
Sponsors: This episode was brought to you by: Completing the Puzzle - Go to CompletingthePuzzle.com and use code OUAC for $10 off your first puzzle subscription box or gift card. Because no one’s been murdered while doing a puzzle. See a list of all our sponsors and discount codes on our website: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/
Links: Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast
Visit the new OUAC MERCH SHOP! Shop now at 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.
More from Once Upon A Crime
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 Listen and Follow Once Upon a Crime Website: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show: Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow true crime listener! 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
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 Riot https://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/
Axl Rose, American Cults & Mexico’s ‘Reformed’ Serial Killer - Welcome to Spooky Season on Once Upon a Crime!
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 Reading Texas 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 Justia Netflix — 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 Tudum Netflix Tudum — Maternal Instinct Director Interview Director Jessica Dimmock discusses the case, fetal abduction, and questions surrounding Parker's psychological evaluation. Read the director interview KTAL/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.html The 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-parke
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. Resources Netflix — 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/81941710 Netflix 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-news Netflix 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-now Netflix 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-messages Ohio 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.html Time Magazine - “The Harrowing True Story Behind ‘The Crash’” https://time.com/article/2026/05/15/the-crash-true-story/