Love is blind. At least that was the case for Linda and Burt Pugash. In 1959, Linda Riss and Burton Pugash were having an affair until Linda broke it off. Burt retaliated by hiring 3 men to blind her with lye. You would think the story ends there...but after 14 years in prison Burt proposed to Linda, and she accepted. Listen in to hear how their messy 39-year marriage unfolded and the drama that came after their deaths.

This case is a medley of mistresses, blackmail, murder plots, and domestic violence.

Connections, Work/Life. “Vanderbilt Faculty & Staff Health and Wellness.” Types of Abusive Relationships | Vanderbilt Faculty & Staff Health and Wellness, www.vumc.org/health-wellness/news-resource-articles/types-abusive-relationships.

DeGregory, Priscilla, and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon. “Wife of Gay Ex-NYPD Cop Sued for Allegedly Scamming Famed Lawyer's Estate out of $15M.” New York Post, New York Post, 10 Mar. 2021, nypost.com/2021/03/09/wife-of-gay-ex-nypd-cop-scammed-burt-pugach-estate-out-of-15m-lawsuit/.

Editors, History. “Riot at Attica Prison.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 July 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riot-at-attica-prison.

Ferla, Ruth La. “What's Love Got to Do With It?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 May 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/fashion/27linda.html.

Fox, Margalit. “Linda Riss Pugach, Whose Life Was Ripped From Headlines, Dies at 75.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/nyregion/linda-riss-pugach-whose-life-was-ripped-from-headlines-dies-at-75.html.

Hays, Tom. “Man Who Blinded Wife Acquitted of Threatening to Kill Mistress.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 1 May 1997, apnews.com/article/dbeb5d0a5ebdd2ef83008147ce2b5a01.

Ilnytzky, Ula. “Linda Pugach, Blinded in Infamous NYC Crime, Dies.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 24 Jan. 2013, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/24/linda-pugach-blind-nyc/1860977/.

Love, Norma. ABC News, ABC News Network, 11 May 2008, abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4828249&page=1.

Macdonald, Marianne. “Meet the Pugachs.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 Aug. 2007, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/aug/05/familyandrelationships3.

Miller-Monzon, John, et al. Crazy Love. Magnolia Pictures, 2007.

Onishi, Norimitsu. “Two Tales of Soured Affairs of the Heart Intersect in a Courtroom in Queens.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Apr. 1997, www.nytimes.com/1997/04/21/nyregion/two-tales-of-soured-affairs-of-the-heart-intersect-in-a-courtroom-in-queens.html.

Raypole, Crystal. “Trauma Bonding: What It Is and How to Cope.” Edited by Marney A White, PHD, How to Recognize and Break Traumatic Bonds, Healthline, 2020, www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/trauma-bonding#causes.

“Sodium Hydroxide.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 June 2019, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/sodium-hydroxide/default.html.

Tanner, Jeremy, and Mary Murphy. “Linda Pugach, Who Married the Man Who Blinded Her, Dies at 75.” PIX11, PIX11, 24 Jan. 2013, pix11.com/news/linda-pugach-who-married-the-man-who-blinded-her-dies-at-75/.

Weiner, Allison Hope. “For Worse and for Better: Documenting an Obsession.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Jan. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/movies/23love.html.

Woo, Elaine. “Linda Pugach Dies at 75; Disfigured by Lye, She Married Attacker.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2013, www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2013-jan-26-la-me-linda-pugach-20130127-story.html.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John List viciously murdered his family in 1971, only to disappear and create a new life for himself. He murdered his three children, wife, and mother. Authorities searched for the fugitive for 18 years until they finally found him...thanks to "America's Most Wanted".

upi.com/4847052. “Chronology of John Emil List.” UPI, UPI, 12 Apr. 1990, www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/12/Chronology-of-John-Emil-List/6707639892800/.

“The List Murders.” Werteen, Mike, director. Forensic Files, season 1, episode 12, 12 Dec. 1996.

Mccracken, Elizabeth. “Wanted.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Dec. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/magazine/28List-t.html.

Publishing, Harvard Health. “Syphilis.” Harvard Health, Harvard Medical School, Mar. 2019, www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/syphilis-a-to-z.

Staff, ABC News. ABC News, ABC News Network, 6 Jan. 2006, abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=132646&page=1.

Stout, David. “John E. List, 82, Killer of 5 Family Members, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Mar. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/nyregion/25list1.html.

Sullivan, Joseph F. “Murder Threat Is Described In List Case <.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Mar. 1990, www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/nyregion/murder-threat-is-described-in-list-case.html.

“A Sunday School Teacher Murders His Family and Goes Undercover for 18 Years.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 13 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-sunday-school-teacher-murders-his-family-and-goes-undercover-for-18-years.

Tumulty, Karen. “17 Years Later, Town Gets Answers to Family Killings.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 1990, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-10-mn-1039-story.html#:~:text=Testimony%20last%20week%20revealed%20the,her%20blind%20in%20one%20eye.

Wakin, Daniel J. “Secrets Surface on Victims in Trial for 18-Year-Old Murders.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 5 Apr. 1990, apnews.com/article/7c702782723c53c26f6621a7b3e90524.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1960, a stunning beauty queen and teacher was horrifically murdered by a Catholic priest, John Feit. This case is filled with religious coverups, sinful priests, and little remorse. Instead of Feit going to jail, he was able to be free for 57 years with the help of the Catholic Church. Listen to hear how Feit was caught, and the lengths the Catholic Church went to cover up Irene's murder.

CBS News, Staff. “Evidence Photos in the Irene Garza Murder Case.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 1 Sept. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/pictures/evidence-photos-in-the-irene-garza-murder-case/17/.

CBS News, Staff. “Read Priest's Letter on the Investigation of Father John Feit.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 2 Sept. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/news/read-priests-letter-on-the-investigation-of-father-john-feit/.

Clergy as Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare, www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/clergymandated.pdf .

Colloff, Pamela. “Unholy Act.” Texas Monthly, Apr. 2005, www.texasmonthly.com/articles/unholy-act/.

Cox, Chelsey. “Ex-Priest Convicted in Texas Beauty Queen's Murder Dies While Serving Life.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 17 Feb. 2020, www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/02/14/ex-priest-convicted-beauty-queens-murder-dies-while-serving-life-says-authorities/4766163002/.

Details - Unsolved Homicide, Texas Department of Public Safety, www.dps.texas.gov/coldCase/Home/Details/151.

“Ex-Priest Convicted of Murdering Texas Woman in 1960.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 7 Dec. 2017, apnews.com/article/02a0d227ff74464ebcc816f0446e0165.

Gaynor, Josh. “Church Officials Shielded Priest Suspected of Murder for Decades.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 26 Feb. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/news/church-officials-shielded-priest-suspected-of-murder-for-decades/.

“Legal Dictionary - Law.com.” Law.com Legal Dictionary, dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=1327#:~:text=no%20contest,crime%2C%20also%20called%20nolo%20contendere.

“The Presidential Election of 1960 : The Post War United States, 1945-1968 : U.S. History Primary Source Timeline : Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress : Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/post-war-united-states-1945-1968/presidential-election-1960/.

Roos, Dave. “How John F. Kennedy Overcame Anti-Catholic Bias to Win the Presidency.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 20 Nov. 2019, www.history.com/news/jfk-catholic-president.

Roppolo, Michael. “Former Priest Convicted in Murder of Texas Schoolteacher Dies in Prison.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 14 Feb. 2020, www.cbsnews.com/news/irene-garza-murder-john-feit-former-priest-dies/.

Schmidt, Samantha. “In 1960, She Went to Confession and Vanished. Now We Know the Priest Murdered Her.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Apr. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/08/in-1960-she-went-to-confession-and-vanished-now-we-know-the-priest-murdered-her/.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1984, college student Angela Samota was brutally murdered in her home. Her case went unsolved for over 20 years until her best friend decided to take matters into her own hands. Find out how Sheila Wysocki solved her best friend’s murder.

Sources

“Court of Criminal Appeals Donald Andrew Bess Jr. v. The State of Texas.” Donald Andrew Bess Jr. v. The State of Texas, Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, cases.justia.com/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/ap-76-377.pdf?ts=1462448597.

Death Row Information, www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_info/bessdonald.html.

“Excerpt: the Evolution of DNA Evidence in the Courtroom.” Innocence Project, The Innocence Project, 18 July 2017, innocenceproject.org/excerpt-the-evolution-of-dna-evidence-in-the-courtroom/.

Graf, Bridget. “Man Convicted of Rape, Murder of SMU Student Loses Appeal.” The Daily Campus, SMU Daily Campus, 14 Apr. 2016, www.smudailycampus.com/news/man-convicted-of-rape-murder-of-smu-student-loses-appeal.

Karen Gren Scholer United States District Judge. “Bess v. Davis.” Legal Research Tools from Casetext, 23 Mar. 2020, casetext.com/case/bess-v-davis-1.

McDermott, Sarah. “My Best Friend's Killer Got Away - until I Made Police Try Again.” BBC News, BBC, 25 June 2018, www.bbc.com/news/stories-44470377.

“Read the Orignal Police Report for Angie Samota.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 8 June 2012, www.nbcnews.com/news/world/read-orignal-police-report-angie-samota-flna820561.

Staff, Inside Edition. “Woman Becomes Private Eye to Help Solve Murder of Best Friend Killed in 1984.” Inside Edition, Inside Edition, 22 Feb. 2018, www.insideedition.com/woman-becomes-private-eye-help-solve-murder-best-friend-killed-1984-40956.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.