Season 3 Finale: Episode Fifteen – Memories Linger Long After the Headlines Disappear
There were few times when my interactions on the crime beat ended in friendships. Many of the people I interviewed associated me with the worst days of their lives. Read More
Season 3: Episode Fourteen – Robin’s Fictional Inspirations
In Episode 14, Robin and Jaclynn shift gears and discuss the real-life characters he met on the crime beat that have been inspirations in his fiction writing.
Read More
Season 3: Episode Thirteen – Love, Lies and the Law: The Linda Lee Walden Saga
In Episode 13, we delve further into the lives of attorney and physician Dr. David Ucker and Dr. Donald Plotnick and their bizarre lives of crime. Also, we’ll introduce a new character, Linda Lee Walden, who is accused of… Read More
Season 3: Episode Twelve – Dr. Ucker and Dr. Plotnick Part 2
In Episode 12 of season three, we conclude our story of two of the most notorious doctors in Columbus, Ohio. This episode takes a bizarre twist when accused killer Dr. David Ucker ends up marrying a woman who is both a patient and a convicted murderer. Read More
Season 3: Episode Eleven – Dr. Ucker and Dr. Plotnick Part 1
Doctors take an oath to care for people. But some of them forget their oath. Dr. David Ucker was accused of hiring a hitman to kill his mistress’ former lover. Dr. Donald Plotnick was illegally selling machine guns and set a guy on fire over a drug debt. Read More
Season 3: Episode Ten – The Murder of Jean Schrader Part 2
What began as a tragic homicide with no charges filed turned into a relentless pursuit of justice led not by law enforcement, but by Jean’s heartbroken father, Dale Wolford. Read More
Season 3: Episode Nine – The Murder of Jean Schrader Part 1
The body of a beautiful young woman and a rising star at an accounting firm in Columbus, Ohio, is found in the stairwell of a downtown parking garage, the life strangled from her. In this episode of Dead Before Deadline, Robin and Jaclynn discuss his first big story at the Columbus Dispatch – the murder of Jean Shrader. Read More
Season 3: Episode Eight – Arthur Shapiro Part 2
Shapiro was under investigation for tax fraud and failing to file income tax for seven years and was about to implicate someone with a suspected history of murder. Read More
Season 3: Episode Seven – Arthur Shapiro Part 1
Arthur Shapiro was a respected Columbus, Ohio, attorney, who counted billionaire and L Brands founder Lex Wexner among his clients. So why was Shapiro killed execution-style in 1985 on the west side of town? Read More
Season 3: Episode Six – The Ski Mask Rapist – Part 2
Part two of the John Barry Simonis story. He was eventually captured and charged in Louisiana, but not before he brought his reign of terror to Central Ohio and another man paid for those crimes. Read More
Season 3: Episode Five – The Ski Mask Rapist – Part 1
Jon Barry Simonis, dubbed the Ski Mask Rapist, gained infamy as one of the country’s most prolific serial rapists. He was eventually captured and charged in Louisiana in 1981, but not before he brought his reign of terror to Central Ohio and another man paid the price for those crimes. Read More
Season 3: Episode Four – The School Teacher’s Disappearance – Part 2
Investigators are stumped in the 1946 disappearance of 24-year-old school teacher, Lola Celli. In part two of the story, investigators are flooded with information on the whereabouts of Lola. Are any of the tips valid? Read More
Season 3: Episode Three – The School Teacher’s Disappearance
In 1946, 24-year-old Lola Celli was a home economics teacher in West Liberty, Ohio. In February of that year, she made the 55-mile train trip from West Liberty to the home of her parents in Grandview Heights, a suburb of Columbus, for Washington’s Birthday weekend. On Saturday morning, Lola called upstairs to… Read More
Season 3: Episode Two – What Happened to George Mosko?
In 1987, George Mosko was living in Loveland, Colorado, and working as an industrial chemical salesman. His brother, John, was starting a business in Lima, New York, and wanted George to come work for him. According to friends, George did not want to leave Colorado, but felt duty-bound to help his brother. Read More
Season 3: Episode One – Contrail of Chaos: The Mary Blake Story
Mary Ann Blake was the most notorious teenage prostitute in Columbus, Ohio, having been arrested more than 100 times before her 18th birthday. Shortly after turning 18, Mary Ann stole $200 and a ring from Gary Moore, a man who identified himself as her boyfriend. Read More
Season 2: Episode Thirteen – The Just Sweats Aftermath
What happened to the central figures in the Just Sweats case? Robin and Jaclynn will cover that in the final episode of Season 2 of Dead Before Deadline. They will also discuss some of the unusual, and sometimes humorous, events that occurred during the years that Robin and colleague Cathy Candisky covered the… Read More
Season 2: Episode Twelve – Yikes! – Just the result of a late-night brainstorming session
The chaos continues as Dr. Boggs heads to trial for murder. Hawkins has been extradited from Italy. He and Hanson are set to go on trial together. All three men will be convicted. Read More
Season 2: Episode Eleven – Oh, thank you, Oprah
The reporters have a little fun with a Glendale detective who sent a spy to determine if Robin and Cathy had secret missives from John Hawkins. At this point, Hanson and Dr. Boggs are in jail, but Hawkins is still on the run. It’s an upset lover in the Netherlands and an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show that puts… Read More
Season 2: Episode Ten – The resurrection of a grave robber’s technique
Now, everyone is interested in the Just Sweats case. Authorities from California and Ohio converge on Fort Worth in hopes of getting custody of Gene Hanson. On Feb. 2, 1989, John Hawkins, Gene Hanson and Dr. Richard Boggs are charged with murder for financial gain with death penalty specifications. Read more
Season 2: Episode Nine – Here’s what happens when you look like a drug dealer
It’s January of 1989 and Columbus Dispatch reporters Robin Yocum and Cathy Candisky have a pretty clear picture of how the multi-million-dollar scam was supposed to work. What they don’t know is the whereabouts of co-conspirators John Hawkins and Gene Hanson. Until . . . Read More
Season 2: Episode Eight – Two mothers searching for answers
Even though the insurance companies know that Dr. Boggs misidentified a corpse, the police in Glendale, California, are sitting on their thumbs. They arrogantly tell Robin’s colleague, Cathy Candisky, “This may be a big deal in Columbus, Ohio, but this is L.A.” Read More
Season 2: Episode Seven – Who is Wolfgang Eugene von Snowden, and why he spricht kein deutsch
Where’s Gene Hanson? If the Just Sweats co-founder isn’t dead, then where did he go? This episode follows Hanson to Florida and tracks his bizarre and often hilarious miscues as he tries to stay one step ahead of the authorities. He has plastic surgery and tries to pass himself off as a German National. Ultimately, Hanson wears out his welcome in Florida and runs to Mexico to hide. Read More
Season 2: Episode Six – There’s a teensy problem, the corpse isn’t Gene Hanson.
John Hawkins has collected $1 million from the Farmers New World Life Insurance Company upon the reported death of his business partner, Gene Hanson. But there’s a problem. When he attempts to collect on other policies, he’s told that authorities are now questioning the identity of the corpse originally identified… Read More
Season 2: Episode Five – A perfect victim for murder
Ellis Henry Greene was a lost soul. He was gay and had moved to Los Angeles in search of some kind of identity. He was an alcoholic, had held a variety of jobs, had no home and no clear path in his life. Ellis was the kind of guy who could disappear and not be missed. Read More
Season 2: Episode Four – Hawkins Saves the Day… sort of
John Hawkins is in a panic. By this point in their scheme, Dr. Boggs was to have killed a man to be the “dead” Hanson, and Hawkins could begin collecting on the $7 million in life insurance that Hanson carried and to which Hawkins was the beneficiary. Read More
Season 2: Episode Three – The co-founder is dying… or is he?
The scam enters phase one. It is late 1987, and Gene Hanson is dying, or so he claims. He tells co-workers that he has AIDS and doesn’t have much time to live. But this is just part of the scam. Hanson was depriving himself of sleep and losing weight in order to appear sick. Read More
Season 2: Episode Two – A multi-million-dollar scheme takes shape
John Hawkins and Gene Hanson have a potential gold mine in the chain of retail clothing stores they have opened in Columbus, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky. But Hawkins and Hanson were con men before they were businessmen, and old habits are hard to break. Read More
Season 2: Episode One – The Just Sweats Case – a reporter’s dream
Welcome to season two of Dead Before Deadline. This season, hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Yocum Wilson will take a deep dive into the singularly most fascinating case of Robin’s career as a journalist – the Just Sweats Case. This story had everything – murder, multi-million-dollar scams, theft, international intrigue and manhunts, beautiful women, sex of every variety, beautiful women, crazy people, evil people. It goes on and on. It was a reporter’s dream, and it dominated Robin’s life for well over a year. Read More
Host Robin Yocum Interview
On this special season finale of Dead Before Deadline, Jaclynn interviews her father Robin Yocum, the host of Dead Before Deadline to give listeners a better understanding of his backstory, his incredible career as a reporter, and much more! Listen in to hear all about Robin and what to expect moving forward with Dead Before Deadline… Read More
Frayed Lives: David Drake’s Tangled Path
In the newest episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Wilson unravel the complex and poignant story of David Drake, a name that once echoed in the hidden corners of Columbus, Ohio for reasons that will leave listeners both troubled and bewildered. David wasn’t just a child; he was a survivor… Read More
Behind the Mask: Dr. Edward F. Jackson – “The Grandview Rapist”
In this gripping episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Wilson take listeners into the harrowing world of Dr. Edward F. Jackson, ominously known as “The Grandview Rapist.” A story that not only sends shivers down the spine but showcases the horrifying duality of a man: a respected figure in daylight, but a sinister predator under the cloak of night. Read More
The Circleville Letters
The air is thick with intrigue and unsolved mysteries in the latest installment of “Dead Before Deadline,” as Robin and Jaclynn embark on a riveting exploration of the infamous Circleville Letters case. The episode unfolds a peculiar tale marked by perplexing correspondence, unfounded accusations, and a… Read More
The Wild and Crazy Life of John Spirko – Part 3 of 3
Hold onto your seats as Robin and Jaclynn Wilson bring you the thrilling conclusion to the tumultuous and perplexing saga of John Spirko in this episode of “Dead Before Deadline.” This final installment promises to leave listeners in awe as the chaotic tapestry of Spirko’s life reaches its jaw-dropping climax… Read More
The Wild and Crazy Story of John Spirko – Part 2 of 3
Following the riveting revelations in the first part, “Dead Before Deadline” returns with the much-anticipated second installment of “The Wild and Crazy Life of John Spirko.” Robin and Jaclynn take listeners deeper into the labyrinthine life of John Spirko, a man whose already tumultuous life takes an even… Read More
The Wild and Crazy Story of John Spirko – Part 1 of 3
John Spirko has been in prison for the murder of Betty Jane Mottinger for 40 years. Dead Before Deadline host Robin Yocum believes he has spent four decades of his life incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit. Spirko, Yocum says, had nothing to do with the murder. He’s the only guy Yocum has ever met who… Read More
The Lost Soul: The Heartbreaking Tale of Mary Hebeler
In this evocative episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” Robin and Jaclynn Yocum transport listeners to the streets of Columbus, Ohio, painting a vivid yet somber picture of Mary Hebeler. Known to many as the town drunk, Mary’s life was layered with struggles, sorrow, and a quest for belonging. “The Lost Soul” dives deep… Read More
The odd, the sad, and the funny…
On the latest riveting episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” host Robin Yocum and his lovely daughter Jaclynn navigate us through a mixed bag of stories he encountered during his tenure on the crime beat. These tales, varying from the whimsical to the downright absurd, showcase the unpredictable nature of human behavior… Read More
Youthful Darkness: The Disturbing Tales of Bradley Porter and Jeffrey McDonald
In a chilling new installment of “Dead Before Deadline,” Robin and Jaclynn Yocum delve into the deeply unsettling tales of two teenage boys who, despite their young age, committed heinous acts that would leave communities in shock and disbelief. Bradley Porter, a seemingly regular 16-year-old, whose actions would catapult… Read More
The Sad Case of Kelly Prosser and Walter Mitchell
In this emotionally charged episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” Robin and Jacqueline are back with another powerful story to cover. Listen in as they unravel the haunting story surrounding Kelly Prosser, a name that would become synonymous with heartbreak in the annals of crime reporting. Kelly’s disappearance and… Read More
The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan
In the heart-pounding second episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” Robin Yocum takes us deep into one of the most baffling and intense cases he’s ever covered: the enigma that is Billy Milligan. With an astonishing 24 distinct personalities, Billy’s case was not just a puzzle to the police and psychologists,… Read More
Did Linda Marsick Die For Elvis
In this riveting debut episode of “Dead Before Deadline,” Robin Yocum delves into one of the most enigmatic cases from his years at the Dispatch – the mysterious death of Linda Marsick. At first glance, it seemed like any other tragic incident, but as Yocum peels back the layers, a strange connection to the King of… Read More
You can also access the podcasts on the following hosts:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
Amazon Podcasts
Dead Before Deadline 