207: New Graphic Diddy Lawsuit, Ax Murderer Caught, Human Head Found in Box, Liam Payne's Death & Bear or Homicide?
The SERIALously podcast examines a range of disturbing crimes, mysteries, and controversies in this episode. From unsolved homicides with puzzling evidence, like a Montana man's suspected bear attack and human remains found in Chicago, to chilling stories of violence against individuals, including a twisted kidnapping plot and decades-old ax murder case finally solved.
The episode also delves into high-profile celebrity scandals—graphic lawsuits allege sexual assault by Diddy, spanning decades and involving minors. Additionally, the sudden and tragic death of former One Direction member Liam Payne in Argentina is explored, with a potential link to substance abuse issues.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 24, 2024 episode of the SERIALously
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1-Page Summary
Unsolved/Mysterious Deaths and Investigations
A brutal murder in Montana with no suspect
Dustin Jerstom, an experienced outdoorsman, was found dead in his tent with gruesome injuries initially suspected as a bear attack. However, detectives and wildlife experts found no bear signs, determining it was a homicide. Police have struggled to find leads in the remote crime scene.
Human remains found in public spaces in Chicago
A human skull was found in a box on a Chicago sidewalk, and separate skeletal remains were discovered nearby. Authorities are investigating to identify the victims and the circumstances surrounding these disturbing discoveries.
Disturbing and Violent Crimes Against Individuals
A Missouri woman's twisted kidnapping plot
Amber Waterman lured pregnant Ashley Bush under job pretenses, violently removed her unborn baby, resulting in their deaths. Waterman's husband aided in disposing of Ashley's body. Waterman received two life sentences for the kidnapping and murders.
A decades-old ax murder case solved
No physical evidence initially linked Jim Krosnick to his wife Kathleen's 1982 ax murder. However, decades later, FBI analysis and new testimony, including a shoe print match, led to Jim's 2022 conviction. His family maintains his innocence.
High-Profile Celebrity Scandals and Allegations
Sexual assault allegations against Diddy spanning decades
Lawsuits describe disturbing accounts of Diddy sexually exploiting minors and adults, including a 13-year-old in 2000. Diddy denies the allegations, calling them publicity attempts. The volume of accusations raises concerns about misconduct.
The tragic loss of Liam Payne
Former One Direction member Liam Payne died suddenly in Argentina. Investigations suggest accidental death, possibly drug-related, given his past substance issues. His passing left fans, family, and former bandmates mourning.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety by downloading a GPS tracking app and sharing your location with trusted contacts when traveling or camping alone. This proactive measure allows friends or family to monitor your whereabouts and quickly notice if something seems amiss, potentially preventing situations like the one in Montana.
- Create a habit of staying informed and vigilant in your community by setting up news alerts for your local area. This keeps you aware of any unusual activities or safety concerns, such as those reported in Chicago, and can help you make more informed decisions about where and when to visit public spaces.
- Educate yourself on the signs of predatory behavior by reading materials from credible psychological resources online. Understanding these signs can help you identify and possibly prevent dangerous situations in your community, similar to the tragic event involving Amber Waterman.
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Unsolved/Mysterious Deaths and Investigations
Gruesome discoveries have shaken communities in Montana and Chicago, where law enforcement faces challenging investigations into brutal and disturbing cases.
A brutal murder in Montana has police baffled, with no suspects and unanswered questions about whether a bear or a human assailant was responsible for the victim's gruesome demise.
The victim, Dustin Jerstom, was an experienced outdoorsman found dead in his tent, with authorities initially suspecting a bear attack before determining the death was actually a homicide based on the nature of his injuries.
On October 12th, the body of 35-year-old Dustin Jerstom was discovered by a friend inside his tent in the remote woodlands of Big Sky, Montana. Despite the horrific condition of Dustin's mutilated body that seemed consistent with a bear attack, detectives and wildlife experts found no signs of a bear near the campsite. Dustin, a seasoned camper and outdoorsman, had been sighted on October 10th driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 to his well-stocked campsite, ready for the weekend. Detectives have asked anyone who was in the Moose Creek area from Thursday to Saturday to come forward with any information.
Detectives have struggled to find leads in the remote location of the crime scene, and the community is on edge, unsure if there is still a threat lurking in the woods.
Dustin was last seen on a Thursday heading to the campsite and was supposed to meet a friend on Friday. After he didn't show up, his body was found just after 10 AM on Saturday. Following the autopsy, which reported multiple chop wounds, including wounds to the head, it was confirmed that Dustin had been murdered. With no bear signs and no suspects or solid answers at hand, the investigation is complicated, and the local sheriff's office advises the public to be vigilant, especially in the woods.
The discovery of a human skull in a box on a Chicago sidewalk, and the separate finding of skeletal remains in the same city, have sparked a disturbing mystery about the identities of the victims and how their remains ended up in public places.
Authorities have not yet identified the individuals or determined the circumstances surrounding these grisly discoveries, leaving many unanswered questions.
In the c ...
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Unsolved/Mysterious Deaths and Investigations
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety awareness by taking a basic self-defense class, which will equip you with the skills to protect yourself in unexpected situations. For example, many community centers or local gyms offer classes that teach how to react to threats and increase situational awareness, which could be invaluable if faced with danger in a remote location or urban setting.
- Start a neighborhood watch program to foster community vigilance and cooperation in safety. By organizing regular meetings with your neighbors and local law enforcement, you can establish a network of communication that helps everyone stay informed about suspicious activities and learn how to report them effectively, thus potentially aiding in solving or preventing crimes.
- Engage in a citizen science project that invol ...
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Disturbing and Violent Crimes Against Individuals
A Missouri woman named Amber Waterman was sentenced to two life terms in prison for the horrific kidnapping and murder of a pregnant woman, Ashley Bush, in a twisted plot to steal her unborn baby.
Amber Waterman, hailing from Missouri, devised a sinister plot to kidnap and murder Ashley Bush, a pregnant woman from Arkansas, in an attempt to claim her unborn child. Waterman created a fake Facebook profile under the name Lucy Barrows to lure Ashley with the promise of a job opportunity and convinced her to travel on a supposed road trip to discuss the job. Tragically, Waterman violently removed the baby from Ashley’s womb, leading to the deaths of both mother and child.
Waterman lured the unsuspecting Bush to a meeting under the pretense of a job opportunity, then violently removed the baby from her womb, resulting in the deaths of both the mother and her unborn child.
Amber drove Ashley to her home in Missouri, where she committed the heinous act. First responders were initially called to a store where Amber lied, claiming to have given birth to a stillborn baby in a truck on the way to the hospital.
Waterman's husband was also implicated in the crime, as he was aware of the kidnapping and murder plot and assisted in the disposal of Ashley's body.
After the murder, Amber and her husband, Jamie Waterman, burned Ashley's body, wrapped it in a tarp, and moved the remains to hide their crimes. Amber faced charges of capital murder and kidnapping, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty, while Jamie was charged with accessory to kidnapping and faced up to 15 years in prison.
A 35-year-old woman named Kathleen Krosnick was brutally murdered with an ax 40 years ago, and the case went cold until recently when her husband, Jim, was convicted of the crime despite a lack of physical evidence.
Decades after Kathleen Krosnick’s ax murder in Brighton, New York, the case that went cold has finally seen a conviction for her husband, Jim Krosnick. Initial investigations had suspected Jim, with elements of the crime scene pointing to an inside job, including a staged burglary and murder weapons from the family's home. However, despite these suspicious elements, no physical evidence di ...
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Disturbing and Violent Crimes Against Individuals
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Enhance your online safety by verifying job offers through multiple channels before engaging. When you come across job opportunities on social media, do a thorough background check of the company and contact them directly through official channels to confirm the offer's legitimacy. This can prevent falling victim to scams similar to the one used by Amber Waterman.
- Advocate for the use of updated forensic techniques in cold cases by writing to your local representatives. If you're passionate about justice and the use of science in legal proceedings, draft a letter to your local government officials urging them to allocate resources for the re-examination of cold cases with new forensic methods, which could lead to breakthroughs as seen in Jim Krosnick's case.
- Create a personal safety network when me ...
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High-Profile Celebrity Scandals and Allegations
The entertainment industry is currently reeling from some serious allegations against music mogul Diddy, involving a series of sexual assault claims, as well as the shocking and tragic death of former One Direction member, Liam Payne.
Allegations Spreading Over Two Decades Against Diddy
Disturbing Accounts
The lawsuits file against Diddy describe disturbing and graphic accounts of both minors and adults being sexually exploited and assaulted. Allegations point to an incident in 2000 involving a 13-year-old girl who attended the MTV Music Awards and hoped to get into an after-party. She claims a limo driver told her she "fit what Diddy was looking for." After signing an NDA at the after-party, she was allegedly given a drink that made her feel woozy and was raped by Diddy and two other unnamed celebrities. Similarly troubling is the story of a 17-year-old aspiring artist who alleged that Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted him in 2022, alongside further allegations by a woman named Ashley Parham, who accused Diddy of gang-raping her as revenge for her accusations regarding Tupac's death.
Diddy’s Denial
Though the suits mention other unnamed celebrities, Diddy has denied any wrongdoing, with his team categorically denying the charges. They claim he has never assaulted anyone and suggest the lawsuits are attempts at seeking publicity. Despite his team's firm stance, the sheer volume of accusations has raised substantial concerns about misconduct within the entertainment industry.
The Loss of Liam Payne
Tragic Death and Investigations
The sudden demis ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
High-Profile Celebrity Scandals and Allegations
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can educate yourself on the signs of exploitation and abuse in the entertainment industry by reading materials from organizations like RAINN or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, which will help you recognize and report suspicious behavior.
- Understanding the signs, such as sudden changes in behavior, unexplained injuries, or fear of a particular person, can make you more aware of potentially harmful situations around you. For example, if you notice a colleague who seems unusually withdrawn or shows signs of distress, you might reach out to offer support or share resources.
- You can support mental health awareness by participating in online campaigns or fundraisers for organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- By sharing stories, educational content, or even participating in events like walks or runs that benefit mental health causes, you contribute to reducing stigma and raising awareness. For instance, you could join a virtual fundraiser where participants pledge to walk a certain number of steps each day to promote mental health awareness ...
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