Scream and Sugar True Crime Coffee Hour

09/04/2025

Welcome back, Spooky Squad, to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour.
In part one of our deep dive into the Fred and Rose West case, we unravel the beginnings of one of Britain’s most disturbing true crime stories. From Fred’s early life and troubled upbringing to Rose’s entry into his world, we trace the paths that brought them together. This episode explores the dark dynamics of their relationship, the home at 25 Cromwell Street, and the early signs of their horrific crimes.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we go through their horrific crimes and what ended it all.

Stay spooky, y'all!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

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08/21/2025

Welcome back, spooky squad to another episode of your favorite true crime coffee hour. We missed you!
Today's episode is a doozy. In July of 2011, a tragedy unfolded inside one of Coronado’s most exclusive mansions. Six-year-old Max Shacknai suffers a mysterious fall, and just two days later, Jonah Shacknai’s girlfriend, 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau, is found hanging naked from a balcony—her hands and feet bound, a cryptic message painted on a bedroom door.

Authorities ruled it a su***de. Her family insists it was murder.

In this first part, we dive into the days leading up to Rebecca’s death: who she was, the key players in her life, Max’s devastating accident, and the chilling morning Rebecca was discovered. From the bizarre crime scene to the immediate questions about how investigators handled it, this case still sparks fierce debate over what really happened in that mansion. Grab your coffee and settle in—it’s time to unravel the first half of a case that blends mystery, scandal, and heartbreaking loss.

Stay spooky, ya'll!

Case notes:
Unravelling the Knots: Mary’s book https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Knots-Sisters-Relentless-Justice-ebook/dp/B0F18YMTXKCoroners' report, Rebecca: https://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Other/zahau,%20rebecca_report.pdfCoroners' report, Max: https://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Other/shacknai,%20max_report.pdfIncredibly detailed review: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/7w8uhi/unexplained_death_part_2_rebecca_zahau_murder_or/Death at the Mansion TV Series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07S7TMRRT/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

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***de

08/15/2025

Welcome back, Spooky Squad, to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour.  Grab onto your b***y because this one's a doozy.
In September 2006, 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart was housesitting for her aunt and uncle in Pocatello, Idaho—completely unaware that two of her classmates had sinister plans. What was supposed to be a quiet weekend turned into a real-life horror movie, inspired by their obsession with slasher films.
In this episode of Scream and Sugar, we dive deep into the events leading up to Cassie’s brutal murder, the chilling video footage left behind by her killers, and the trial that shocked a community. We’ll explore the twisted psychology behind the crime, how the investigation unfolded, and the lasting impact on Cassie’s loved ones. 

Remember to stay spooky, and stay safe. 

Case Notes: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOWWQ1NzyKk

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08/07/2025

Welcome back, Spooky Squad, to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour.
Today's case was suggested to us, and it's a wild one. In April 1943, four boys trespassing in Hagley Wood stumbled upon something horrifying inside a hollow wych elm tree: the skeletal remains of a woman stuffed tightly into its trunk. What followed was a bizarre investigation tangled with witchcraft, wartime espionage, coded graffiti, and occult rumors. In this episode of Scream and Sugar, we unravel the enduring mystery of "Bella"—a woman with no official identity but whose ghost still lingers in chalked messages on brick walls: Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? Was she a N**i spy? A victim of dark rituals? Or someone forgotten by history, hidden in plain sight? Grab your coffee and your curiosity—this one is a trip into the eerie unknown.
Stay spooky, babies!

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Case Notes:
https://topbeercrew.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/a-brief-history-in-time-halesowen-pubs/ #:~:text=The%202nd%20half%20of,High%20St%20and%20Whitehall%2C%20Halesowenhttps://calgarycitizen.com/p/rose-and-crown-historyhttps://crimereads.com/who-put-bella-in-the-wych-elm/ #:~:text=fate%20as%20he%20was%20executed,Berlin%20hospital%20in%20December%201942https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2023/05/bbc-investigator-asks-museums-for-help-tracing-remains-of-murder-victim/ #:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%E2%80%99re%20hoping%20to%20be%20able,%E2%80%9Dhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-07/mystery-over-who-put-bella-down-the-wych-elm-/102171844https://crimereads.com/who-put-bella-in-the-wych-elm/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/is-this-the-bella-in-the-wych-elm-unravelling-the-mystery-of-the-skull-found-in-a-tree-trunk-8546497.htmlhttps://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/mystery-murder-and-half-a-century-of-suspense-745330.ht

07/31/2025

Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. In one of the most bizarre and twisted cases in American true crime history, Brian Wells walked into a bank wearing a collar bomb, and what followed was a deadly, real-life scavenger hunt that stunned the nation.
This episode delves into the infamous "Pizza Bomber Heist" of Erie, Pennsylvania —the shocking events of August 28, 2003, the tangled web of suspects, and the question that still haunts many: Was Brian a willing participant or an unsuspecting pawn in a murderous game? Join us as we break down the chilling timeline, the manipulative mastermind, and the jaw-dropping aftermath that inspired a Netflix documentary and continues to captivate armchair detectives.
And remember, stay spooky, y’all.

Case Notes: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murder-in-america/id1547409175
Evil Genius Docuseries: https://www.netflix.com/title/80158319

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07/25/2025

This week on Scream & Sugar, we’re headed back to the place both Candace and Sahara used to call home—Chesapeake, Virginia—for a case that shook the Hampton Roads area to its core.

Known as the "Hampton Roads Killer," Elton M. Jackson preyed on young men throughout the late '90s and early 2000s. A normal guy by day, predator by night, Jackson led a double life—luring vulnerable men with promises of money or hookups and then brutally taking their lives. In this episode, we honor the lives of the victims, examine the disturbing patterns in Jackson’s crimes, and follow the long and frustrating investigation that finally brought him to justice.

We also discuss how homophobia, racism, and victim-blaming delayed the case for years. Big shoutout to Renee Davis and the Melanin Mayhem podcast, where I first heard about this case—go give her a listen!)

So hang with us as we sip on some La Victoria Coffee and remember to stay spooky, y'all!

Case Notes:
https://www.lavictoriacoffee.com/

Melanin Meyhem Podcast with Renee Davis: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/renee-davis07/episodes/The-Hampton-Roads-Killer-e2nni9r

https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970914/09140087.htm
https://skdb.fandom.com/wiki/JACKSON_Elton_Manning
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1997/06/29/and-then-there-were-twelve/b1301584-7ee3-4645-8a7a-339d092cf62f/
https://prezi.com/yumdwqoamkaz/elton-m-jackson-hampton-road-killer/
Elton Manning Jackson v Commonwealth of Virginia :: 2000 :: Virginia Court of Appeals - https://law.justia.com/cases/virginia/court-of-appeals-unpublished/2000/2587981.html
https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970914/09140087.htm
https://www.deseret.com/1998/10/28/19409196/suspect-in-virginia-slayings-sentenced-to-life-in-prison
https://crimesolverscentral.com/serialkillers/775

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07/17/2025

In this episode of Scream and Sugar, we’re heading back to the Wild West to uncover the infamous 1899 robbery of the Union Pacific Overland Flyer No. 1. Masterminded by the legendary Butch Cassidy and his gang, the Wild Bunch, this daring train heist near Wilcox, Wyoming, left railroad cars blown apart and lawmen scrambling across the frontier. With explosives, horses, and a disappearing act that would baffle authorities, this robbery became one of the most iconic crimes of the American West.

Join us as we explore how it happened, who was involved, and what came next in this dusty tale of outlaws and audacity.  And remember, stay spooky, y'all!

Case References: 
https://roamercoffeehouse.com/

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07/10/2025

Welcome back, Spooky Squad! In this chilling yet vital episode of Scream and Sugar, we dive into the heartbreaking 2002 case of Gwen Amber Rose Araujo—a transgender teenager whose life was tragically cut short in a brutal hate crime. We explore Gwen’s life, the events leading to her murder, the trial that followed, and the lasting impact her story had on hate crime legislation and the transgender rights movement. Rest in peace, Gwen. 

Case Notes: 

Larry's Gourmet Coffee House: https://www.instagram.com/larrysgourmetcoffee/?hl=en

Gay Panic Defense States: https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/gay-trans-panic-defense-legislation/
PA: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2023/hb637

Resources: 
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/10/nx-s1-5355126/trump-nih-trans-regret-detransition-research #:~:text=%22Regret%20rates%20for%20gender%2Daffirming,KFF%2C%20a%20non%2Dpartisan%20healthhttps://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/parole-granted-to-defendant-in-2002-murder-of-transgender-teen-gwen-araujo-in-newark/65252/https://www.ebar.com/story/76362https://www.hrc.org/resources/fatal-violence-against-the-transgender-and-gender-expansive-community-in-2023https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345113/https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/10/nx-s1-5355126/trump-nih-trans-regret-detransition-research #:~:text=%22Regret%20rates%20for%20gender%2Daffirming,KFF%2C%20a%20non%2Dpartisan%20healthhttps://abc7news.com/who-is-gwen-araujo-timeline-documentary-transgender-murder/12451079/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-23-me-transgender23-story.htmlhttps://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/chilling-time-line-of-a-killing-death-of-2668044.php

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06/25/2025

In this week’s episode of Scream and Sugar, we dive into the chilling double life of Elaine Antoinette Parent—a master manipulator, identity thief, and murderer.
Dubbed “The Chameleon Killer” by authorities, Parent left a trail of forged documents, stolen identities, and at least one gruesome murder in her wake. But how did an upper-middle-class girl from Florida become one of the most elusive suspects in FBI history? And what twisted motives drove her to kill and vanish again and again? Buckle up for a tale of deception, plastic masks, and postcards from the edge—this one is as wild as it is terrifying.

So grab your coffee and your crime scene curiosity—because this week, the truth is wearing someone else’s face. Shout out to Black Rock Desserts for today's review! 

And remember, stay spooky, y’all!

Notes:
Scream and Sugar Merch: scream-and-sugar-podcast.printify.me/
Black Rock Desserts: https://www.blackrockdesserts.com/

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06/24/2025

Merch alert!! We've got the spookiest gear for y'all!! Go check it out on printify: https://scream-and-sugar-podcast.printify.me/

04/24/2025

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we are talking about a serial killer, or lack thereof, in Austin, Texas, who's allegedly stalking Rainy St. 
Since 2022, a chilling pattern has haunted Austin, Texas—bodies of young men have been found in Lady Bird Lake, near the bustling bars and music venues of Rainy Street. Official reports have often ruled these deaths as accidental or self-inflicted, but locals aren’t convinced.
Are these tragic drownings a coincidence? Or the work of a serial predator hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Scream and Sugar, we unravel the unsettling timeline, examine the victims, and dive into the growing theories that point to something far more sinister lurking along the shores of this beloved nightlife district.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, ya'll!

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fOAguINVZ4nbbUmWC51PA?si=1HQSO3CSTuuhLiqSP1BMjw

04/23/2025