CBS Radio Mystery Theater - "The Little Old Lady Killer" (Old Time Radio, 1975)

A gripping mystery unfolds as a female police detective investigates a series of murders linked to animal cruelty. The story begins with the killing of Tom Fessler, a hunter, whose death is shrouded in suspicion after a confrontation with an elderly woman at a roadside diner. The detective, Lieutenant Louise Kramer, faces resistance from her male colleagues who doubt her theory that the vigilante killer could be an elderly woman.

As the investigation progresses, Kramer uncovers connections between Fessler and Arnold Weller, a professional gambler, who is also found murdered. Both victims share a history of cruelty towards animals, leading Kramer to believe that the killer is motivated by a desire for justice against those who harm animals. The plot thickens as the detective races against time to identify the killer, who is revealed to be Bernadette Cobb, a seemingly harmless old woman with a vendetta against animal abusers.

In a tense climax, Cobb confronts Weller, armed with a .22 caliber pistol, but her plans are thwarted when the gun fails to fire, exposing her twisted sense of justice. The story concludes with Cobb being committed to an institution, leaving the audience to ponder the complexities of morality and the nature of justice in a world where even the most benign appearances can conceal dark intentions.

CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents “The Little Old Lady Killer,” originally broadcast September 15, 1975, as episode 344. Written by Sam Dann and directed by Himan Brown, this CBS Radio Network mystery features Diane Baker, Anne Seymour, Alan Reed, Berry Kroeger, and Marvin Miller.

A female police detective investigates a string of murders linked to accusations of cruelty toward animals. As she pursues an unsettling theory that her skeptical male colleagues are reluctant to accept, the case leads from a roadside diner into a tense police procedural driven by vigilante justice.

CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:48 Original Broadcast 44:39 Closing

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