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: 50

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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 examines into the horrific actions of serial killers throughout history. Known to…
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…
Geneva: The Poisonous Nurse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:30
On a warm June day in 1868, the vibrant streets of Geneva were struck by the nerve-chilling act of a nurse... The nurse was known for her guiding hand, yet within her grip lurked poison and peril. In Geneva's boarding ho…
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]

Duration: 36:35
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]

Duration: 13:56
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 of Foul Play's Season 36…
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…