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
Riverside: Cheri Jo Bates and The Zodiac Link [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In Riverside, 1966, Cheri Jo Bates was brutally murdered, sparking questions...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPriv…
California: Zodiac's Letters & 340 Cipher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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When the infamous 340 Cipher arrived, it deepened the chilling puzzle that...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivac…
San Francisco: Paul Stine's Zodiac Cab Murder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:10
On a routine night in Presidio Heights, San Francisco, the Zodiac Killer...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy…
California: Zodiac's Attack on Bryan Hartnell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:03
The idyllic afternoon beside Lake Berryessa was shattered by the chilling...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy…
Lake Berryessa: The Zodiac's Infamous Attack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:36
Amidst the serene landscape of Lake Berryessa, the Zodiac Killer launched...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy…
Trailer: San Francisco's Zodiac Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36
Unmask the terror of San Francisco's Zodiac Killer in this captivating preview. As we plunge into the darkness of the late 1960s, explore the chilling saga of a predator who methodically mesmerized and terrified Northern…
San Francisco: The Zodiac's First Letters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:13
In 1969, the Zodiac Killer, infamous for his cryptic ciphers, mailed his...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy…
Vallejo: Zodiac's Ferrin & Mageau Attack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:31
Uncover Zodiac's Ferrin & Mageau Attack, as Foul Play reveals... Experience the harrowing events of July 4th, 1969, in Vallejo, California, when the Zodiac Killer’s terrifying actions once again came to the fore. In this…
Mysteries on the True Crime Express [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:04
...1 historic steam train... ...9 exceptional true crime podcasts... ...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day... ...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard?This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy…
Benicia: Zodiac's Jensen & Faraday Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:09
Relive Zodiac's Jensen & Faraday Murders, delving into chilling... Join us as we revisit these infamous crimes that sent shockwaves through California. The narrative of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday’s tragic demise…