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 Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover 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 Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover 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?

A chilling case of a family man living a double life. In this episode, we dive into the story of Thomas Richard Bunday, an Air Force technical sergeant whose quiet, disciplined exterior hid a pattern of escalating violence in Fairbanks, Alaska. Between 1979 and 1981, five young women vanished or were found murdered — and for years, investigators struggled to connect the dots. 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover Art By: Charnell Thomas Bunday - The True Crime Database Membership Thomas Bunday North Pole Killer Thomas Bunday - Wikipedia Alleged Serial Killer Thomas Richard Bunday Murdered 5 Victims March 1983 – MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Between 1972 and 1985, Schenectady mother Marybeth Tinning lost nine of her children—one after another—under circumstances doctors initially labeled as SIDS or tragic coincidence. But as the pattern grew impossible to ignore, investigators uncovered a chilling truth: MaryBeth had confessed to smothering her infant daughter, Tami Lynne, leading to her 1987 conviction for second‑degree murder 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover Art By: Charnell Marybeth Tinning: Mom Who Killed Baby Girl Gets Parole | PEOPLE.com Female Serial Killers: How and why Women Become Monsters - Peter Vronsky - Google Books Female Serial Killers: How and why Women Become Monsters - Peter Vronsky - Google Books Reye's syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Schenectady Gazette - Google News Archive Search Marybeth Tinning 'Laying Low' After Parole | PEOPLE.com

When 25‑year‑old grad student Jelani Day vanished in August 2021, his family’s world stopped. Jelani was focused, joyful, and deeply loved — not someone who would simply disappear. But within days, his car was found hidden in the woods, and weeks later, his body was discovered miles away in the Illinois River under circumstances that still make no sense. In this episode, we break down the timeline, the unanswered questions, and the frustrations Jelani’s family faced as they fought for urgency, transparency, and justice. What really happened to Jelani Day — and why does this case remain so painfully unresolved? 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover Art By: Charnell The Mysterious Death of Jelani Day No Mystery, Contends Writer John W. Fountain; ‘Somebody Out There Knows’ Jelani Day Disappearance Explained: The Final Days and Clues That Still Don't Add Up | Read The Real Story Three years later, Jelani Day joint task force is not actively investigating as family continues to seek answers | WGLT About Us | Jelanidayfoundation New Clues Emerge in the Death Investigation of Jelani Day – NBC Chicago

Part Two takes us into the heartbreaking events of August 2018, when Baylie’s life was cut short in a tragic accident that left her family searching for answers no parent should ever have to seek. We examine the timeline of that day, the medical decisions that followed, and the emotional and legal battles her mother, Shawnee Baker, has fought in the years since. This episode explores the complexities surrounding Baylie’s death — the unanswered questions, the advocacy work that emerged from her loss, and the legacy she continues to leave behind through Baylie’s Wish Foundation. With care and clarity, we look at how a family’s grief transformed into purpose, and why Baylie’s story still resonates with so many today. 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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover Art By: Charnell BAYLIE'S WISH FOUNDATION Book — BAYLIE'S WISH FOUNDATION

In Part One, we step into the world of 19‑year‑old Baylie Grogan — a brilliant, compassionate young woman from New Hampshire whose life was defined by discipline, empathy, and a love for horses that shaped her entire identity. Through the voices of those who knew her best, we explore Baylie’s childhood, her deep bond with her family, her early dreams of becoming a doctor, and the unwavering work ethic that carried her from the barn at dawn to the University of Miami’s equestrian program. But as summer 2018 unfolds, a series of events begins to shift the ground beneath her. This episode traces Baylie’s final months at home, the pressures she faced, and the moments that now feel haunting in hindsight.   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: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecuriousMusic By: Michael DrzewieckiCover Art By: Charnell BAYLIE'S WISH FOUNDATION Book — BAYLIE'S WISH FOUNDATION