Clark Peshkin is the presenting sponsor of Wease Family Circus. Clark Peshkin hosts free estate planning workshops that explain what actually works for New York families, especially if you own a home and want to keep things private and simple for the people you love. Register at https://clarkpeshkin.com/wease In Episode 6 of Wease Family Circus, the family sits down with true crime author Susan Ashline for an unforgettable conversation about her latest book, Ungrateful Bastard: The Shocking Journey of a Killer and Escape Artist. This isn't your typical true crime story. It's the criminal biography of Gordon "Woody" Maurer, a man who murdered both of his parents at 18, fled to Texas with his 14-year-old girlfriend, sparked an international manhunt, and became the subject of America's Most Wanted. But that was just the beginning. Once behind bars, Woody didn't fade into obscurity. He manipulated guards, survived brutal conditions, and orchestrated a bizarre escape plan involving what he called a "coffin"—a plan so elaborate it made international headlines in 2017. His story runs parallel to the Menendez brothers case, complete with allegations of childhood abuse, ineffective legal counsel, and a constitutional appeal that recently brought him into a public courtroom for the first time in 30 years. Susan takes the family deep into the story: The horrific abuse Woody endured growing up on an isolated rural farm in Richfield, outside of Utica The night he shot both parents—and why nobody was supposed to get killed His years in maximum security, where he learned to work the system and survive in one of the nation's most notorious prisons The allegations of a $10,000 bribe tied to his guilty plea—and the attorney he wanted to kill over it How Susan verified his wild claims, from beatings to escapes to relationships behind bars The moment she sat across from Woody in prison, terrified he might jump the table Wease admits he couldn't put the book down. He took notes. He told Doreen everything at dinner each night. And despite all the brutality, all the crimes, all the rage—Wease found himself feeling sympathy for the guy. Susan was shocked. She thought readers would hate Woody. Instead, they're reaching out saying they feel bad for him. The family listens to chilling audio from Woody himself, recorded during Susan's interviews. You hear him describe shooting his parents. You hear him talk about wanting to snap his former attorney's neck. You hear the cold, harsh voice of a man who's spent decades in solitary confinement and doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks. But there's more to the story than violence. There's manipulation, survival, and a man who—despite everything—was still listening to Brother Wease on the radio while building his escape coffin in Auburn. Susan also reveals: How Woody's recent court hearing brought new corroboration to his claims Why his case mirrors the Menendez brothers—abuse, appeals, and media attention The bizarre reality of prison life, including sexual abuse statistics and relationships behind bars How she tracked down other inmates to verify Woody's stories—and what they confirmed Why the book's title, Ungrateful Bastard, comes from a nickname his mother gave him The episode also dives into Susan's previous books—Without a Prayer, now the basis of two Hulu docuseries about cults, and A Jacket Off the Gorge, her account of unknowingly dating an ex-con. Wease is a superfan of her work, and this conversation proves why. Plus, the family gets into: The Super Bowl—Drake Maye vs. Donald, MVP debates, and why the Bills would've smoked both teams Stefon Diggs and Matt Collins fighting Seahawks defenders together, even though they barely played together in Buffalo The Sabres' playoff push and whether they can hold onto their wild card spot Wease's brutal poker bad beats and why he's ready to quit (again) The frozen iguanas falling from trees in South Florida—and Wease's unpopular defense of them A wild encounter with a 50-year-old guy in traffic who looked 80 and had some interesting life advice Susan will be doing a book signing at Elvio's Coffee Shop in Webster on February 21st from 9-11 a.m. Lucy and Jake will be there. Wease and Doreen are stuck in Florida, but they're cheering from afar. And here's the kicker: Right after recording this episode, the family got Woody on the phone from prison. That conversation will be released as a bonus episode—and you'll hear the whole story directly from the killer himself. This is raw, intense, and unlike anything Wease Family Circus has done before. From true crime deep dives to family chaos to sports rants, Episode 6 delivers on every level. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
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