The Murder Book: A True Crime Podcast

• The Von Stein Tragedy: A Perfect Family Shattered I

  A whispered plea for help in the dead of night unravels a chilling tale of betrayal, resentment, and deadly consequences in Washington, North Carolina. July 25, 1988 began as any other sultry summer night in this sleepy riverside town, where crime rarely disrupts the gentle pace of life. But at 4:24 AM, dispatcher Michelle Sparrow received a desperate call from Bonnie Von Stein, her voice barely audible: "This is an emergency...my husband may be dying and I may be dying too." What first responders discovered at 110 Lawson Road, in the town's most affluent neighborhood, was a scene of unimaginable brutality that would shatter the community's sense of security forever.The Von Steins appeared to have everything – a beautiful home, financial security, and plans for the future now that their children were approaching college age. Leith Von Stein had recently inherited over $1.2 million from his parents, allowing him to contemplate early retirement from a job he never truly enjoyed. But beneath this veneer of prosperity lay complex family dynamics, particularly between Leith and his stepson Chris Pritchard. Despite Leith's attempts to win Chris's affection through expensive gifts like a classic Mustang, their relationship remained strained. The weekend before the attack, Chris had visited unexpectedly, engaged in an uncomfortable confrontation about drug use, then abruptly returned to NC State claiming he had an urgent paper due.What initially appeared to be a home invasion would gradually reveal itself as something far more calculated and personal. Through meticulous investigation of Bonnie's description of the "shadow" who attacked them in their sleep, the peculiar timing of Chris's visit, and the family's newly acquired wealth, detectives began piecing together a narrative more disturbing than anyone could have imagined. This case examines how inheritance, family resentment, and opportunity can combine with devastating consequences, proving that sometimes the greatest threats come not from strangers, but from those closest to us.Subscribe to follow this investigation as we uncover the shocking truth behind one of North Carolina's most notorious crimes, where a family's darkest secrets ultimately led to murder.Send us a text Support the show

  --------  

  1:10:48

  --------

  1:10:48
• Jeffrey Gordon's Deadly Secret: The Final Chapter of a Murderer's Trial

  The chilling final chapter of Jeffrey Gordon's murder trial unfolds through the eyes of an unlikely hero—a former flight attendant turned law student who helps bring justice to her slain colleague. In a courtroom run by women, a monster's mask finally slips.When Cori Reyes, an intern with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, volunteered to assist with the Nancy Ludwig murder case, she brought a unique perspective. Having worked as a flight attendant for years, Reyes had been trained using Ludwig's murder as a cautionary tale—"there's someone out there preying on flight attendants." Now she had a chance to help catch that predator.The scientific evidence presented by forensic expert Link Helton was devastating: DNA matching Gordon to the crime scene with odds of 97 quadrillion to one. As she testified, Helton kept stealing glances at Gordon, her eyes sending a silent message: the DNA doesn't lie. The graphic autopsy details brought jurors to tears as the medical examiner described 45 separate wounds inflicted on Ludwig—evidence of a frenzied, prolonged attack that contradicted Gordon's story of innocence.But the most shocking moment came behind the scenes. When defense attorney Tank confronted his client about inconsistencies in his story, Gordon underwent a terrifying transformation. According to Tank, Gordon "went crazy," ranting about the women in the courtroom and confessing to killing both Ludwig and another victim. "He would kill all these kinds of women, just like he had killed these two," Tank later revealed. The mountain man persona Gordon had maintained crumbled, revealing the monster beneath.The jury took less than two hours to find Gordon guilty on all counts. Evidence later emerged suggesting Gordon kept coded souvenirs from his victims, including underwear labeled "Nel North"—likely referring to Nancy Ludwig from Northwest Airlines. Though now serving life without parole, Gordon's shadow still looms large over those who encountered him. Prosecutor Elizabeth Walker admits, "He's the only man I've ever been afraid of. To this day when I go home, I pull my shades. I never used to."What drives someone to such calculated brutality? And how many other victims might be out there, their cases still unsolved? Listen now to understand how justice finally caught up with a predator who thought he was untouchable.Send us a text Support the show

  --------  

  38:07

  --------

  38:07
• Jeffrey Gorton's Deadly Secret XIV: Underwear, Videotapes, and Murder: Jeffrey Gordon's Double Life Exposed

  A meticulously organized garage with labeled drawers for every type of nail and screw. A quiet family man who never raised his voice. A loyal employee of the family sprinkler business. This was the Jeffrey Gordon that everyone thought they knew – until police discovered what he'd been hiding between his mattress and box spring.When DNA technology finally connected Gordon to the brutal murders of Margaret Eby and Nancy Ludwig, investigators expected to find evidence of his crimes. What they discovered instead was a trophy collection so vast it would take weeks to catalog: approximately 1,200 pieces of women's underwear, many labeled with names, dates, and locations, hidden throughout his home, garage, and even behind his chimney. The man who appeared to be a model husband and father had been living a double life for decades as a voyeur and predator.The search revealed not just physical trophies but homemade videos filmed from hidden cameras in bathrooms, spliced together with movie scenes depicting sexual assault. Gordon had compiled his disturbing obsessions while maintaining his public persona as a quiet chess champion who helped his children with homework and attended church regularly. His own family seemed blind to the red flags – though his brothers privately referred to him as "the panty sniffer," they never reported his concerning behavior.Most troubling were the accounts from neighbors and acquaintances who had encountered Gordon's darker side years earlier. Multiple women reported finding him peeping in windows or discovering him in their homes, but when they informed his family, they were asked not to involve police. Despite previous imprisonment in Florida for similar offenses, Gordon had been protected by a wall of silence that allowed his behavior to escalate to murder.The Jeffrey Gordon case exposes how predators hide in plain sight, and how communities can enable their behavior through denial and silence. Listen as we unravel the investigation that finally brought him to justice and the shocking discoveries that revealed the true extent of his crimes. What other secrets might still be hidden in those meticulously labeled containers?Send us a text Support the show

  --------  

  58:57

  --------

  58:57
• Jeffrey Gorton's Deadly Secret XIV: Inside a Sexual Predator's Arrest

  Deep beneath the veneer of an ordinary family man lurked one of Michigan's most disturbing predators. Jeffrey Gordon—quiet, meticulous, and seemingly gentle—maintained a double life that shocked even veteran investigators when it was finally exposed in 2001.The search of Gordon's modest Flint home revealed an astonishing collection of approximately 1,200 women's undergarments, many labeled with names, dates, and locations—trophies from his countless violations of women's privacy. His disturbing videotapes captured unsuspecting victims in intimate moments, revealing a voyeuristic obsession that had apparently escalated to murder.Behind the scenes, jurisdictional tensions complicated the investigation. Prosecutor Arthur Busch insisted on proper procedures despite pressure from state police brass eager for media attention. As search warrants were finally executed, investigators discovered the true extent of Gordon's depravity—a meticulously organized collection that reflected the compartmentalized psychology of a predator who had successfully hidden in plain sight for years.Most shocking was how Gordon's behavior had raised red flags for years. Former neighbors reported multiple incidents of window peeping dating back to 1986. His own brothers reportedly referred to him as "the panty sniffer" behind his back. Yet his wife Brenda maintained she knew nothing of his criminal past in Florida, where he had served prison time for similar offenses. Gordon's arrest finally connected him to the 1986 murder of Margaret Eby at the prestigious Mott Estate, where his family business had installed sprinkler systems, and the 1991 killing of Nancy Ludwig at a Detroit airport hotel. After fifteen years, advanced DNA technology had finally caught up with a predator who had been hiding behind the facade of normalcy all along.Join us as we explore how this seemingly ordinary man maintained his secret life for so long, and the dedicated investigators who finally brought him to justice.Send us a text Support the show

  --------  

  58:57

  --------

  58:57
• Jeffrey Gorton's Deadly Secret XIII: The Arrest and Interrogation

  The long-awaited arrest of Jeffrey Gordon unfolds in this riveting episode that takes us deep into the interrogation room where a seemingly ordinary man's dark secrets are methodically exposed.When Michigan State Police finally match DNA evidence to local sprinkler installer Jeffrey Gordon in the 16-year-old Margaret Eby murder case, tensions immediately flare between law enforcement agencies. Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur Bush is furious about being kept in the dark until the last moment, creating a backdrop of professional conflict that threatens to complicate the case. Meanwhile, Detective Dan Snyder makes the emotional call he's been waiting 11 years to make to Nancy Ludwig's father: "We got Nancy's killer."The heart of this episode centers on the masterfully conducted interrogation of Gordon. Detectives Larson and Kilbourne skillfully build rapport with their suspect, gradually moving from mundane questions about his background toward revealing questions about his criminal history in Florida. Gordon's body language—arms crossed, constant rocking, nervous fidgeting—betrays his anxiety even as he attempts to maintain composure. What emerges is a disturbing pattern: Gordon's fetish for women's clothing led to break-ins and escalating confrontations with women.The interrogation reaches its dramatic climax when investigators confront Gordon with irrefutable FBI fingerprint evidence placing him at the murder scene. "I absolutely positively know you did it," Detective Larson declares, cutting through Gordon's denials. Despite their appeals for him to explain his actions and take responsibility, Gordon maintains his innocence until the handcuffs click shut.This episode illustrates a profound truth about predators: they rarely match our image of monsters. As one detective reflects, "All these years the Flint PD was looking for a monster and they should have been looking for the guy next door." Subscribe now to hear how an ordinary man with a seemingly normal family life harbored deadly secrets for nearly two decades.Send us a text Support the show

  --------  

  1:14:22

  --------

  1:14:22

Más podcasts de True crime

Podcasts a la moda de True crime

Acerca de The Murder Book: A True Crime Podcast