138. The Just Sweats Life Insurance Murder

138. The Just Sweats Life Insurance Murder

Author: Tara Sariban and Barney Black February 3, 2020 Duration: 1:16:24

The Just Sweats Life Insurance Murder.

Dodgy Just Sweats business owners John Hawkins and Melvin Hanson had been cashing in on insurance scams since the early 1980's. After running their company into the ground with reckless spending, they came up with the scam to end all scams. They decided to take out over a million dollars in life insurance on Melvin Hanson, then fake his death for the insurance money. To do so, they convinced their friend and fellow con artist, Californian neurologist Dr Richard Boggs to join them in their scheme. Now all they needed was a dead man who resembled Melvin Hanson and they intended to find one, even if it meant killing him themselves.


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Thanks to Loraine Ledwell for her TCNT on the book “My Life with Murderers” by Professor David Wilson.


True Crime Nerd Time, a segment on Bloody Murder, needs your help because it stars you! We want you, our listeners, to submit your recommendations for anything true cime related! It could be books, TV shows, movies, documentaries, exhibitions, graphic novels, art, music etc. So send us your brief story (we’ll read it out) or record your story (it can just be a recording on your phone, and we’ll play it!). We will also publish it on our website. Keep it to about 2 mins please or 200 words. Email here! bloodymurderpodcast@gmail.com. Oh and if you give us your postal address we'll send you some stickers as a reward!


Aussie As: A quick-thinking Aussie legend saves his 4-year-old son from a gigantic python in North Queensland


Sources: Insured for Murder, by Robin Yocum and Catherine Candisky, Publisher: Prometheus, November 1, 1993, The Rise and Fall of Dr Boggs, The LA Times, Doug Smith, October 29th, 198, Ex-Fugitive Sentenced – and Married, The LA Times, Leslie Berger, October 14th, 1995, The Murder Hustle, Vanity Fair, Ann Louise Bardach, October 1989, Luck Ran Out For Fugitive Who Lived The Good Life, AP News, Linda Deutsch, August 11, 1991, Released From Prison After 20 Years, SoCal Man Finds Calling In Counselling Troubled Teens, CBS Los Angeles, November 3, 2014, Blood Lies and Alibi's “Doctor of Death,” Investigation Discovery, 29 October 2012

Aussie As Sources: Family speaks after 4-year-old was attacked by a python in North Queensland, 7News, Digital staff, December 23, 2019, Queensland boy, 4, saved by dad after massive snake tries to pull him to his death, 7News, Warren Barnsley, January 7, 2020, Four-year-old boy attacked by 4.5m python at family's Airlie Beach home, The Courier Mail, Thomas Chamberlin, December 20, 2019


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Hosted by Tara Sariban and Barney Black, Bloody Murder-A True Crime Podcast digs into the darker corners of history, focusing on crimes that haven't been covered to exhaustion elsewhere. This award-nominated show explores lesser-known cases from Australia and across the globe, offering detailed narratives that are often overlooked. What sets this podcast apart is its unique tone-a blend of deep research and unexpected comedy that arises naturally from the hosts' dynamic and their own perspective as dedicated true crime fans. The humour is careful and considered, never mocking the victims or the gravity of the events discussed. Instead, it's the odd tangent, the personal reaction, or the absurdity surrounding a case that provides a moment of levity, making the exploration of difficult topics more engaging. Listeners will find a conversation that feels like joining two friends who are equally fascinated and critical, dissecting the how and why while treating the subject with respect. Each episode aims to add a fresh voice to the genre, prioritizing stories that are compelling precisely because they aren't the ones you've already heard a dozen times. It’s this commitment to uncovering obscure tales, paired with a genuinely distinctive rapport between the hosts, that defines the experience of this particular true crime podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Bloody Murder - A True Crime Podcast
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