Further Reading for the LA Ripper/ The Greystone Murders
The History of the Barclay Hotel: A collection of true short stories both epic and tragic
Beverly Hills Confidential: A Century of Stars, Scandals and Murders
Further Reading on Dave Anthony’s side story of Ken Mcelroy
Info:
This live episode delves into the seedy side of vintage L.A.
1944 taking place near downtown, the bodies of two women were found separately on the same day. The first woman, 25 year old, Virginia Lee Griffin was found stuffed into a closet at the Barclay Hotel a large butcher knife and razor found close by. The second victim, 38 year old Lillian Johnson was found mere hours later. Both women’s bodies had been brutally mutilated by their attacker.
As police were revewing evidence and interviewing hotel workers, an apb was put out with the killers description. A local officer decided to check the bars and happened upon a man, Otto Wison, matching said description having a glass of wine and chatting up a woman (maybe his third victim of the day?) In his hand he has a book of matches from the Barclay. It was noted after he was arrested, that his hands were stained with blood and he had a razorblade in his pocket.
During his interview, Otto told the detectives his history of “unnatural impulses” and eventually details of the slaughters.
Murders dont just happen in hotels in LA, then there were the Mansions
1929, Ned Doheny, son of an oil tycoon, was found dead in a guest bedroom of his Greystone mansion, beside him was the body of his longtime friend and assistant Hugh Plunkett.
Ned’s wife claimed that Hugh had let himself in that night and she had not noticed a thing until she heard a gunshot coming from the guestrooms. Instead of calling police she called their family physician to come and investigate with her. At his arrival they found Hugh outside of the room, distressed and then he ran back into the room and shot himself.
Some speculated that Hugh killed Ned for not giving him a raise, while other believed the two were lovers with Hugh carrying out a murder suicide.
Hometown murders brought to you by Dave Anthony who tells the story of Ken Mcelroy a town bully who gets his in the end.
Gareth Reynolds covers the North side strangler of Milwaukee.
Episode 53
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