Crimes Of Passion

Between the relentless accusations and physical assaults, the early 2000s were a dangerous time to be living in the Polk household. No one knew that more than their three kids, all caught in the middle of their parents’ tempest. On October 13th 2002, it all came to a head.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1990s, the Polk marriage descended into a slow-motion implosion. Susan’s resentment of her husband was growing, and it only intensified after he introduced her to a new therapeutic technique: RMT, or recovered memory therapy. Now, she had access to memories she’d never confronted before. And she didn’t like what she was seeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Polk decides once and for all how far he’ll go to manipulate Susan into staying with him. They marry in the winter of 1981. As the decade progresses, their joy over the birth of their first son, Adam, turns to dread as they’re swept into the hysteria of Satanic Panic. But in that dread, Susan finds her purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twenty years ago, a heinous crime unfolded in a California pool house. The seeds of it were planted in the 1970s, when the Bay Area’s rising star in adolescent therapy, Dr. Felix Polk, met a new patient: 15-year-old Susan Bolling. They took a shine to each other almost immediately. But as he blurred the boundaries of their doctor-patient relationship, both their lives would be thrown into chaos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, detectives were unable to solve the murder of Rozanne Gailiunas. Then police were given a tip that the murderer was her lover’s ex-wife. After a thorough investigation, Joy Aylor was arrested. But days before her trial, she skipped bail — giving authorities a whole new set of problems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Dr. Peter Gailiunas met his future wife, Rozanne, it was love at first sight. But after their marriage, things started to unravel. Another lover entered the mix, and then somebody wound up dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From a royal to a humanitarian to a victim, Princess Diana significantly impacted the world during her short time here. Her recent portrayals in TV and film prove that although her passing happened twenty-five years ago, her story still lives on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the world mourns, speculation runs wild. How could this have happened? Who was to blame? British paparazzi, who hounded the vehicle into its passengers’ final moments, are an easy target. But rumors arise that lay the fault at the feet of the royal family — a possibility that Diana herself had predicted.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twenty-five years ago, the British monarchy was forever changed upon the death of the “People’s Princess.” Today, we’re revisiting her story, looking back on a moment that impacted not only the royal family, but the world. We jump back to the 1980s, when Diana Spencer is ushered into a fairy tale. But from the beginning, it eats away at her — until she’s left simultaneously isolated and dangerously exposed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Smith had performance issues in the bedroom. He was desperate to somehow make it up to his fiancée Tonya Bundick. So when she asked him to burn down an abandoned building, Charlie said yes. And it led to an arson spree that terrorized Accomack County, Virginia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Smith was an unassuming man from rural Virginia with a prison record and a substance problem. Tonya Bundick was a respectable nurse and mother, who could also be the life of the party. He wanted to stay clean for her. But then she asked him to do the unthinkable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After an extended break-up, Elaine O'Hara agreed to meet with Graham Dwyer, assuming he'd changed. He had changed, but unfortunately, for the worse. When they resumed their relationship, Graham got even more violent. One day she went deep into the forest to meet him, and she never came out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elaine O'Hara wanted to explore the world of BDSM. Graham Dwyer was willing to help her. She explained her fantasies, and they established a master-slave relationship. But what she didn't realize was that he also had fantasies. Ones that put her in terrible danger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christa Pike still wasn't over Colleen Slemmer sleeping with her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. She was going to make Colleen pay. What started out as a simple fight quickly escalated into murder. Was that their plan all along? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a childhood full of abuse, 18-year-old Christa Pike decided to turn her life around. She enrolled at Job Corps, a place meant to provide job training for at-risk youth. That's where she met Tadaryl Shipp. The two became a couple and were inseparable — until Colleen Slemmer arrived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When she realized that her husband was having an affair with his boss, Jennair Gerardot talked him into going to couple's therapy. But when he filed for divorce anyway, she decided that if she couldn't be happy, neither could he. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was love at first sight. But it wasn't always easy for Mark and Jennair Gerardot. So when Mark fell in love with his boss, Jennair knew she had to do something. And when she promised "till death do us part" all those years ago, she meant it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the middle of the night, David Brown woke up his 14-year-old daughter Cinnamon and told her it was time to go through with the plan. Still half-asleep, she swallowed a bunch of pills, took a gun, and killed her stepmother Linda. Years would go by before the truth behind that day would be revealed. Parcasters, we have exciting news! Our first book hits bookshelves July 12th. Don’t miss this chilling summer read that takes you deep into the darkest sides of human nature. Learn more at www.parcast.com/cults! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the time David Brown was 30 years old, he had a 20-year-old wife, a teenage daughter, and a secret lover — his wife’s younger sister. When word got out that his wife was plotting to kill him, David turned to the other women in his life with a plea: Would they do whatever it took to keep him safe? Countdown to the CULTS book release! Parcast’s first book hits shelves July 12th. It’s an unflinching exploration of shame, secrecy, power, exploitation, and destruction. Learn more at www.parcast.com/cults!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While searching for Tina Biggar, her boyfriend Todd and her father Bill found only one lead. It was Ken Tranchida, a mysterious man who said he'd loan Tina nearly $20,000 to buy a car. Once they found him, he was happy to talk. Only nothing he said was truthful. Parcasters, we have exciting news! Our first book hits bookshelves July 12th. Don’t miss this chilling summer read that takes you deep into the darkest sides of human nature. Learn more and grab your copy at www.parcast.com/cults! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices