Portugal: The 1772 Foundling Wheel Killer

Portugal: The 1772 Foundling Wheel Killer

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins July 17, 2025 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 36 of Foul Play. Known simply as the Foundling Wheel Killer, this figure was linked to a series of mysterious infant deaths. Before this notoriety, the individuals involved were seen as residents dutifully caring for society's most vulnerable. Yet, beneath was a grim secret. This episode reveals the systemic negligence and moral failings of an era. By examining these crimes, we understand the precarious lives of orphans and the exploitative practices that preyed upon innocence. The Foundling Wheel, a rotating wooden device to leave unwanted infants anonymously, was supposed to be a refuge. Instead, it became a source of dread as mortality rates among these children soared. The investigation eventually pointed to murder, leading to widespread outrage and sorrow. In the 18th century, Portugal was a society struggling with poverty and infant mortality. The Foundling Wheel, while intended to protect, also highlighted grievous social failings as it turned into a site of unchecked tragedy. Foul Play takes you through chilling accounts of the investigation, illustrating how societal pressures and ignorance gave rise to tragedy. Join as we sift through historical records to uncover truths behind a long-forgotten Portuguese horror. --- 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
Staffordshire: The Rugeley Poisoner's First Victim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:10
In the fog-laden lanes of Victorian Staffordshire, William Palmer found his first victim, igniting a path of sinister intent that would crown him the notorious Rugeley Poisoner. Season 38 of Foul Play delves deep into th…
Devizes: The Confession of Constance Kent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:58
Constance Kent's confession shocked a nation still reeling from the Road Hill House murder, altering her life forever as Victorian justice loomed. In Season 37’s climax, Foul Play explores the ripple effects of Constance…
Brighton: Constance Kent's Five Years of Silence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:30
Road Hill House weaves a haunting legacy as the walls echoed with accusations, while Constance Kent disappeared into silence for five years. Amidst the intrigue of Season 37, delve into the aftermath of the Road Hill Hou…
Wiltshire: Detective Whicher's Road Hill Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:46
Detective Whicher stumbled onto the Road Hill House murder, probing deeper into its secrets than anyone dared, forever changing investigative practices. Season 37's focus unfolds the life and work of Detective Whicher, a…
Wiltshire: The 1860 Road Hill House Murder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:37
A quiet Wiltshire town became infamously known as the site of the 1860 Road Hill House murder, a case that shattered Victorian complacency and intrigued the nation. Season 37 of Foul Play opens with the harrowing murder…
Silesia: Münsterberg's Forgotten Cannibal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:54
Münsterberg's forgotten cannibal terrorized under the veil of normalcy... Enter the darker side of history with Season 36’s exploration of serial killers. During the early 1920s, Münsterberg was unaware of a brutal prese…
Hungary: Béla Kiss and the Lonely Hearts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:28
Hungary's Béla Kiss lured and slaughtered those seeking love... Season 36 dives deep into the chilling tales of forgotten serial killers. In a sleepy town in Hungary, the seemingly charming Béla Kiss preyed on the hopes…
Marrakesh: The Shoemaker's 36 Graves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 di…
Netherlands: Angel of Death's Many Victims [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
In 1880s Leiden, the 'Angel of Death's many victims lay undetected. 'Good Mary', once a beloved caretaker, was found to have... The season delves into the horrific actions of serial killers throughout history. Known to t…
Finland: Matti Haapoja's Famine Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
Finland's Great Famine birthed bleak times, and amidst these shadows emerged serial killer Matti Haapoja... In dire straits, survival instincts can descend into depravity. Haapoja's crimes emerged from a backdrop of desp…