Marrakesh: The Shoemaker's 36 Graves

Marrakesh: The Shoemaker's 36 Graves

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins December 23, 2025 Duration: 26:23
In Marrakesh, the shoemaker buried his many victims beneath his shop... This season unfolds the chilling narratives of historical serial killers worldwide. In a vibrant Marrakesh, the unassuming shoemaker, often found diligently crafting footwear, held a sinister secret beneath his shop floor. The victims, primarily lonely women seeking solace or companionship, became unwitting targets. These individuals, forgotten in life and in history, had families and dreams, only to be deceived by the promise of hope. Their stories bring a human element to this dark tragedy and call for their remembrance. The case matters historically, highlighting the intersection of innocence and crime within trade communities. It challenges modern attitudes towards trust in business dealings, revealing a vulnerability that persists to this day. Authorities unveiled the gruesome truth following reports of disappearances that led to the shoemaker’s door. The concoction of soil and remains beneath his shop told a tale of calculated cruelty. His capture and the subsequent execution reverberated globally, drawing attention to the lethal capabilities of malevolence hidden in ordinary life. Set in the early 20th century, Marrakesh was a bustling hub under French colonial rule. The cultural melting pot, with its vibrant trade and social exchanges, couldn’t escape the shadow of deceit. Social conditions and colonial tensions perhaps shielded deeper scrutiny into individual actions until it was too late. In this episode, listeners will hear about the startling arrest, community reactions, and how these heinous acts were eventually brought to light. Prepare for an unsettling journey into the mind of a predator that took advantage of societal blind spots. --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod

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Step back into an era of flickering gaslight and whispered secrets, where justice was often as murky as the London fog or as stark as a frontier town’s saloon. Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast exhumes long-forgotten criminal cases from the 1800s and early 1900s, meticulously piecing together stories that newspapers sensationalized and time nearly erased. Hosts Shane Waters, a veteran whose work helped shape the genre, and Wendy Cee, alongside researcher Gemma Hoskins, guide you through each meticulously researched season. They focus on a single, complete narrative, building the tension from the crime itself through the investigation and into the courtroom’s hushed drama. You’ll hear more than just the facts; you’ll get a sense of the societal pressures, the legal limitations, and the human lives entangled in each historical moment. This isn't about quick summaries-it's a deep, immersive audio experience that treats the past with the gravity it deserves. The podcast connects the dots using original documents, period accounts, and a clear-eyed analysis that separates legend from truth. It’s for anyone who wonders about the real stories lurking in the shadows of history, told with a journalist’s precision and a storyteller’s care for the victims and the complexities of their times. Listen to Foul Play for a compelling journey where every clue matters and history itself is the most important character.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Philippines: The Priest Who Killed 57 Parishioners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:28
In 1826, a chilling discovery marred the serene backdrop of a Philippine parish. Father Juan Severino Mallari... The trusted priest of quiet parish life horrified his community. Allegations of murder, cloaked in piety an…
Australia: The 1842 Berrima Axe Murderer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In February 1842, a dingo uncovered a shallow grave near Berrima. This harrowing discovery in Australian history... In the rolling hills near Berrima, the macabre find of a dingo engaged a nation. Kearns Landregan, an Ir…
India: Thug Behram and the Thuggee Stranglers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In colonial India, travelers often befriended strangers on the road, never suspecting these companions were Thuggee Stranglers. Thug Behram's reign of terror makes a chilling subject for analysis in this episode of Foul…
Portugal: The 1772 Foundling Wheel Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:28
In 18th-century Portugal, amid olive groves, a caretaker discovered a shallow grave containing an infant's body. The Foundling Wheel Killer of 1772 walks us along the tragic paths of historical serial killers in Season 3…
Jamaica: The Edinburgh Castle Mad Master [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:41
What drives a man from Scottish grace to Caribbean bloodshed? In the sun-drenched hills of Jamaica, the Edinburgh Castle Mad Master left a trail of violence. This Season 36 episode explores serial killers who left indeli…
France: La Voisin and the Poison Affair [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:43
In the glittering court of Louis XIV's France, La Voisin built a criminal empire on the dark art of poisoning. Known for the Affair of the Poisons, she became a notorious figure, weaving crime and mysticism in a tale tha…
Roman Empire: History's First Serial Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:52
In the shadowy corners of the Roman Empire, Locusta perfected the deadly art of murder. Known as history's first serial killer, her story marks the chilling beginning of one of history's deadliest professions. Season 36…
Taipei: Uncovering Evidence in The Chia Case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
The final chapter of the Chia children's case scrutinizes unyielding mysteries... Join Foul Play's conclusive exploration in Season 35 as we revisit the complex case involving Charles and Jennifer Chia. In this final epi…
Taipei: Discovering The Chia Children Remains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:23
A tragic discovery in Taipei brings the Chia children case back to light... In Season 35 of Foul Play, we continue to examine the devastating circumstances around the loss of Charles and Jennifer Chia. Nine months after…
Taipei: The Chia Children Case Begins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:49
In the heart of Taipei, the Chia children case unveils a despairing narrative... Season 35 of Foul Play examines the haunting circumstances surrounding Charles and Jennifer Chia, whose disappearance in 1989 still reverbe…