Ohio & Washington: Justice Buried for a Century

Ohio & Washington: Justice Buried for a Century

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins April 21, 2026 Duration: 28:43

Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of gun violence, intimate partner violence, poisoning, and discussions of coercive control in same-sex and heterosexual relationships. Crisis resources are listed at the end of these notes.

of Foul Play, Shane and Wendy examine two cases from the American Gilded Age connected by the same institutional failure: not a lack of evidence, but a refusal to act on it. The Ashtabula bridge disaster killed 92 people and led to the silencing of the one man who told the truth. The Hells Canyon massacre left as many as 34 Chinese miners dead, and an all-white jury acquitted the confessed killers.

Season 40: Twin Portraits, two states, two stories. Ohio, 1877. Washington and Oregon, 1887. A murdered railroad engineer whose autopsy was hidden for 123 years, and Chinese gold miners massacred in the deepest gorge in North America while federal law declared them less than citizens. Two historical murder cases where the evidence existed and the institutions responsible chose silence.



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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: 50

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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…
Taiwan: The Chia Children Disappearance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:51
The Chia children's disappearance haunts Taiwan, leaving unanswered... Season 35 opens with the unexplained vanishing of the Chia children, echoing unresolved heartache across decades. Charles and Jennifer, vibrant sibli…
Baltimore: Lies, Truth, and The Keepers Unveiled [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:54
Lies exposed. Truths revealed. The Keepers unveiled. Episode 94 of Foul Play examines... --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ App…
Orlando: The Verdict on Casey Anthony [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:22
In Orlando, the explosive verdict of Casey Anthony's trial leaves a nation reeling. It's a moment when justice meets suspense, and society grapples with the implications of a legal system's decision in the spotlight. As…
Orlando: Inside the Anthony Trial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:10
Inside the Casey Anthony trial, tensions mount as witness testimonies paint complex pictures. In Orlando, the unfolding six-week trial over the tragic loss of Caylee begins to examine courtroom truths and lies. Continuin…
Orlando: Casey Anthony Trial Begins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:38
The Casey Anthony trial begins with explosive claims. As the courtroom in Orlando fills with tension, the prosecution and defense prepare to present their very different narratives around the tragic fate of Caylee Anthon…