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The Escape Pod Traumedy

The Escape Pod Traumedy

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A traumedy about the trials and tribulations of people in their journeys of “escape”.
Escape what, you ask? ALL the things!
From trauma, crime, and unhealthy family cycles, to traffic and good deeds not going unpunished.
Like we said—all the things!

(Just tune in…you’ll understand.)

Co-hosted by Charity Doyle and Karabeth Borresen --The Escape Pod aims to connect, educate, entertain, and humanize through the lens of lived experience.

Copyright 2023 EscapePod-traumedy All rights reserved. Sozialwissenschaften True Crime
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  • Murder or Self-Defense - The Mashek Case - Ep. 105

    Murder or Self-Defense - The Mashek Case - Ep. 105
    Jan 28 2026
    Murder or Self-Defense? The Mashek Case - EP. 105 In a case defined by disturbing surveillance footage, power imbalance, and a single fatal shot, the line between victim and perpetrator is anything but clear. In this episode of The Escape Pod, we examine the tragic and legally complex case of Richard “Dickey” Mashek and Kelly Ann Croyle—a case that forced prosecutors, experts, and the public to confront a difficult question: When does self-defense begin in situations of prolonged terror and domestic violence? Captured almost entirely on video, the Mashek case offers a rare, unfiltered look at how sustained abuse, threats, and psychological captivity can escalate into a deadly moment—one that the justice system ultimately ruled was not murder, but survival. Episode Highlights The September 2014 events in Box Elder, South Dakota Hours of surveillance footage documenting escalating abuse Power dynamics, age disparity, and coercive control Graphic threats, physical assaults, and use of deadly weapons The moment the fatal shot was fired—and what came after The prosecutor’s ethical dilemma Expert analysis from leading forensic psychiatrists Why charges were ultimately dropped How this case challenges traditional definitions of “imminent threat” Trigger Warning This episode contains discussions of: Domestic violence Psychological torture and coercive control Threats of homicide Firearm-related death Listener discretion is strongly advised. Notable Quote “This was one of those cases where the evidence didn’t give us easy answers—only harder questions about fear, control, and survival.” — Lara Roetzel Guest Perspective This episode features insight from Lara Roetzel, who served as Chief Deputy State’s Attorney at the time of the case, offering a rare prosecutor’s perspective on one of South Dakota’s most legally complex self-defense determinations. Resources & References   Attorneys, Experts Say Woman Was Forced to Shoot Boyfriend  Video Clears SD Woman of Boyfriend's Murder  Bond Set at $500K for Woman Charged with Murder  Box Elder Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Murder  Prosecutors in Box Elder Killing Add Video to Evidence    Key Questions We Explore What does “imminent danger” mean in cases of prolonged terror? How should the legal system evaluate self-defense when abuse is sustained, not momentary? Would this case have unfolded differently without video evidence? How do prosecutors balance legal standards with trauma-informed realities? Why This Case Matters The Mashek case challenges long-held assumptions about self-defense law—particularly in domestic violence situations where escape is threatened, violence is constant, and fear never subsides. It raises critical questions about how justice systems define danger, how trauma impacts decision-making, and how evidence can both clarify and complicate the truth. __________________________________________________________   Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more.    https://www.escapepod.live    Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts?   General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live   Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live    On Social Media   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscapePod.traumedy   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escape_pod_podcast/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Escape_Pod_podcast/videos    Subscribe and listen now- https://linktr.ee/escapepod57701 
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    1 Std. und 5 Min.
  • Greedy Grannies — The Black Widow Murders of Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt - Ep. 104

    Greedy Grannies — The Black Widow Murders of Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt - Ep. 104
    Jan 21 2026
    They looked like harmless grandmothers. Well-dressed. Polite. Unassuming. But behind the bleach-blonde hair and designer handbags was a calculated, cold-blooded scheme that turned human lives into insurance payouts. In this episode of The Escape Pod, we uncover the shocking true story of Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt—two elderly women who targeted homeless men, gained their trust, insured their lives for millions, and waited for the perfect moment to kill. This is the chilling case known as The Black Widow Murders—a story of greed, manipulation, and the systemic failures that allowed it to happen twice… almost more. Episode Highlights The mysterious 1999 death of Paul Vados, initially ruled a tragic hit-and-run A second eerily similar death in 2005: Kenneth McDavid How life insurance investigators uncovered a deadly pattern The role of fraud, grooming, and exploitation of vulnerable populations Surveillance, forensic evidence, and a secretly recorded jailhouse conversation The arrest, trial, and life sentences of two women no one suspected How insurance loopholes created a literal murder timeline Trigger Warning This episode contains discussions of: Murder Exploitation of unhoused individuals Financial fraud Death by vehicular violence Listener discretion is advised. Notable Quote “It is so evil and so heartbreaking to think that anyone would decide that the purpose of homeless human beings is to make profit.” — Gloria Allred, attorney for the victims’ families Resources & References     NBC News/Dateline: "With friends like these"   Wikipedia: "Black Widow Murders"  FindLaw: "PEOPLE v. RUTTERSCHMIDT (2009)"  Medium/California Dreaming: Bartlette, DeLani R. "Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt: The Black Widow Murderers"    iHeartRadio/Criminalia: "The Black Widow Murders: The Story of Septuagenarian Killers Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt"  CBS News: "Black Widows' Guilty In Homeless Murders"  The Cinema Holic: "Paul Vados and Kenneth McDavid Murders: Where Are Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt Now?"  NBC News: "Elderly women indicted on insurance fraud"  CNBC/American Greed: "American Greed: The Black Widows"  Los Angeles Magazine: "What Can I Tell You?"  Grokipedia: "Black Widow Murders"  Ranker: "10 Grisly Facts About The Black Widow Murders And The Seemingly Wholesome Grandmas Behind Them"  Additional Note: In November 2021, Dateline NBC released a six-part podcast series titled "The Thing about Helen and Olga," presented by Keith Morrison, which provides extensive additional detail on this case.    Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more.    https://www.escapepod.live    Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts?   General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live   Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live    On Social Media   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscapePod.traumedy   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escape_pod_podcast/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Escape_Pod_podcast/videos    Subscribe and listen now- https://linktr.ee/escapepod57701 
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    47 Min.
  • Amber ALERT- Ep. 103

    Amber ALERT- Ep. 103
    Jan 14 2026
    Eight Minutes That Changed America: The Legacy of Amber Hagerman On January 13, 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman left home on her pink bicycle for one more ride—and never returned. In just eight minutes, she vanished from an abandoned parking lot in Arlington, Texas, setting off one of the most heartbreaking child abduction cases in American history. Her story would transform grief into action, outrage into advocacy, and a single tragedy into a nationwide child-protection system that has saved over a thousand lives. In today’s episode, Charity walks you through the case that led to the creation of the AMBER Alert—how Amber’s abduction shattered her family, galvanized a community, and sparked a movement that would forever change the way this country responds when a child goes missing. This story is devastating. It’s infuriating. And it’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments, one mother's fight can ignite a legacy of life-saving change. Content Warning: Child abduction, sexual assault, murder, systemic failure, and traumatic details involving minors. Episode Highlights Amber’s last bike ride and the eight-minute window that changed everythingEyewitness Jim Kevil’s account of the abductionThe abandoned bicycle that launched a frantic searchHow the “Welfare to Work” documentary unintentionally made Amber’s face known nationwideThe devastating discovery of Amber’s body four days laterThe beginnings of a movement: Donna Whitson’s transformation from grieving mother to national advocateDiana Simone’s simple question that sparked the idea for AMBER AlertsThe creation of PASO and the push for tougher lawsHow Amber Hagerman’s case led to: The 1996 national sex offender registryThe first regional AMBER Alert systemThe 2003 PROTECT Act establishing AMBER Alerts nationwide The first child saved by AMBER Alert: a 2-month-old baby found in 34 minutesThe evolution from radio broadcasts to instant wireless emergency alertsThe staggering impact: more than 1,200 recovered childrenThe lesser-known tragedy: how accepting donations for her son caused Donna to lose her welfare benefitsArlington PD’s ongoing investigation — still active, still receiving tips, still searching for justiceDonna’s message to her daughter’s killer more than 25 years laterThe legacy Amber left behind, and the mothers, fathers, and children her story continues to protect Reflection Amber Hagerman’s story is one of unbearable loss—and unshakable legacy. Though her case remains unsolved, her name has become a lifeline for families across the world. Every alert that buzzes on a phone, every community that mobilizes in minutes, every child recovered because strangers refused to look away… all of it traces back to a little girl on a pink bike and a mother who refused to let her death be the end of her story. Amber didn’t just change the nation. She saved it—one child at a time. Resources & References The History of the AMBER Alert AMBER Alert: Frequently Asked Questions AMBER Alert AMBER Alert History The Case that Started It All How Were Amber Alerts Created? The Amber Hagerman Cold Case Reporter Recalls Painful, Public Journey of Amber Hagerman's Mom Pain Still Binds Those Touched by Amber Where Are Amber Hagerman's Parents Now? Crime Junkie Podcast: Precedent: Amber Hagerman New Peacock Doc 'Amber: The Girl Behind The Alert' Explores Cold Case Behind The Life-Saving Service Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more. https://www.escapepod.live Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts? General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live On Social Media  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscapePod.traumedy  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escape_pod_podcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Escape_Pod_podcast/videos Subscribe and listen now- https://linktr.ee/escapepod57701
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    28 Min.
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