Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

By: Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey
  • Summary

  • An exploration of how Chicago has created some of the most notorious serial killers and murders in America. Unpacking the "socio" in "sociopath," Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey investigate how the ecological urban landscape of Chicago provided the perfect background for some of the most heinous crimes ever.
    © 2024 Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death
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Episodes
  • 23: Englewood Part III
    Dec 31 2024

    This is the part 3 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the the police torture that led to an unknowable number of false confessions, the ongoing legacy of that torture, and how it contributed to the difficulty in identifying and prosecuting the murderers who were killing women in Englewood throughout the 1990s.

    TW: Police brutality, torture, forced confessions, sexual assault, murder

    Research sources include:
    Clarno, Andy, et al. Imperial Policing: Weaponized Data in Carceral Chicago. University of Minnesota Press, 2024.

    Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

    Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303

    Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html.

    Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html.

    Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites

    Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers#

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    Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • 22: Englewood Part II
    Dec 24 2024

    This is the part 2 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the similarity of the crimes committed by all three of these killers, and how the conditions in Englewood promoted these similarities.

    TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder

    Research sources include:
    Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

    Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303

    Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html.

    Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html.

    Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites

    Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers#

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    Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • 21: Englewood Part I
    Dec 17 2024

    This is the part 1 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the history of Englewood and how it became a fertile environment for violent serial murder.

    TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder

    Research sources include:
    Mello-Klein, Cody. “Why Are There Fewer Serial Killers Now than There Used to Be?” Northeastern Global News, 26 Apr. 2023, https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/04/26/serial-killer-decline/.

    Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

    Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303

    Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

    Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html.

    Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html.

    Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites

    Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers

    Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers#

    “9 Years of Decline: Expect Chicago to Be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035.” Illinois Policy, 16 May 2024, https://www.illinoispolicy.org/9-years-of-decline-expect-chicago-to-be-no-4-behind-houston-by-2035/.

    Staff, NBC Chicago. “Chicago’s Population Has Dropped

    Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast
    Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social
    Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins

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