Murder: True Crime Stories

In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy investigates the disappearance of the Sodder children, who vanished after a fire destroyed their West Virginia home on Christmas Eve in 1945. George and Jennie Sodder escaped with four of their children, but five were believed to have died inside. No remains were ever recovered, raising immediate doubts about the official ruling of accidental fire. As questions mounted, troubling details surfaced, including a cut phone line, a missing ladder, and reports of strangers near the home before the blaze. Convinced their children had been abducted, possibly linked to George Sodder’s outspoken views, the family spent decades searching for answers. This episode explores the fire, the inconsistencies, and the mystery that refuses to fade.

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In the aftermath of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl’s murder, suspicion lingered within the walls of Mercy Hospital. Early attention focused on clergy members and hospital staff, but despite initial questioning and forensic work, the case stalled and eventually went cold. In Part 2, Murder: True Crime Stories examines how new evidence and renewed scrutiny more than two decades later led investigators back to a priest who had once been questioned and released. As prosecutors built their case, allegations surfaced about prior misconduct and institutional silence within the Catholic Church. The trial would hinge on circumstantial evidence, witness testimony, and a jury’s interpretation of events that had taken place years earlier. This episode explores the reopening of the case, the conviction that followed, and the lingering debate over whether justice was truly served in the killing of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl.

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Sister Margaret Ann Pahl had devoted her life to faith, service, and the Catholic Church. A hospital chaplain in Toledo, Ohio, she spent her days comforting the sick and ministering to those in need. In Part 1, Murder: True Crime Stories traces Sister Margaret’s life from her early calling to the Sisters of Mercy to her years at Mercy Hospital. Known for her discipline and deep commitment to her vocation, she was respected by many and quietly at odds with others inside the institution she served. On Holy Saturday in 1980, Sister Margaret was found brutally stabbed and strangled inside the hospital chapel, her body positioned in a way that stunned even seasoned investigators. As rumors spread and early suspects emerged, her killing sent shockwaves through the Catholic community and left investigators facing a crime that felt both deeply personal and profoundly unsettling.

If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios

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In January 1997, Scott Falater appeared to be a devoted husband, father, and successful engineer living a quiet suburban life in Arizona—until his wife, Yarmila Falater, was found brutally stabbed and drowned in their backyard pool. Scott was discovered nearby with blood on his clothes, yet he claimed he had no memory of the attack, insisting he was sleepwalking during the murder. In this episode, Up and Vanished’s Payne Lindsey introduces us to the case and discusses what makes this case so fascinating. We explore the shocking crime, the rare “homicidal sleepwalking” defense that divided experts, and the chilling question at the center of the case: was this a calculated act of violence, or a tragic nightmare carried out unconsciously? The Scott Falater story remains one of the most controversial and unsettling murder trials in modern history.

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In the aftermath of Joan Risch’s sudden disappearance, investigators were left staring at a scene filled with unsettling clues. Blood on the kitchen floor. A phone torn from the wall. Two young children alone in the house. In Part 2, Murder: True Crime Stories examines how police processed the evidence and why the case quickly split into competing theories. Detectives traced blood types, followed reports of a woman seen walking along a nearby road, and scrutinized Joan’s recent interest in crime and disappearance stories. Was she the victim of a violent abduction, or had she carefully staged her own vanishing? As leads faded and the years passed, Joan’s disappearance became one of New England’s most enduring mysteries, leaving investigators and her family still searching for answers.

If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios

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