Roman Empire: History's First Serial Killer

Roman Empire: History's First Serial Killer

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins June 5, 2025 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 of Foul Play delves into serial killers from across eras, unveiling the notorious figures whose dark actions shaped history. Locusta was a cunning woman of ancient Rome, skilled in herbalism and potions. Before she became infamous, she was a resourceful survivor in a ruthless world where power and ambition knew no morals. Her talent for creating poisons made her sought after by Rome's elite, shaping her destiny in a society infamous for its treachery. This episode matters because it highlights the intersection of historical events and individual malice, offering insights into how the power dynamics of the Roman Empire could allow such a figure to thrive. Understanding Locusta’s story provides a window into ancient economics, politics, and crime, echoing themes still relevant today. Locusta's career began as court intrigues opened doors for her lethal skills. Rumored to have been involved in multiple political assassinations, including the infamous poisoning of Emperor Claudius, she became an unwitting icon in the grim saga of serial killers. Despite her capture and execution, her legend casts a long shadow, illustrating the Roman Empire's complex morality. During the Roman Empire, a period known for its technological advances and philosophical progress was paradoxically also a time of brutal power plays and political assassinations. Locusta operated in an era when a myriad of political factions vied for control, utilizing subterfuge as much as swords. In this episode, listeners will uncover how Locusta rose from obscurity to notoriety. We will explore the paths by which she avoided detection and thrived in a world teetering on the knife-edge of political chaos. Foul Play’s immersive storytelling brings her life—and her era’s dark underbelly—to vivid life. --- 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
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Texarkana: As we conclude the saga, delve into the frantic chase to capture the Phantom Killer who haunted a small comm...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising…
Texarkana: Phantom Killer's Reign of Fear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Texarkana: Follow the harrowing tale of the Phantom Killer's vicious attacks that leave a city on edge and desperate fo...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising…
Texarkana: The Phantom Killer Emerges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:16
Texarkana: In 1946, fear grips a town as the Phantom Killer emerges, leaving behind a chaotic trail of terror and unansw...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising…
Florence: Monster's Terrors Unveiled [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:48
Episode 2 continues the grim saga of the murderous spree that plagued the Tuscan countryside. This installment plunges into the labyrinth of the investigation's most turbulent years. We examine the pressure-cooker enviro…
Florence: Unmasking the Monster of Florence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In the first episode of "Foul Play: Crime Series" titled "The Monster of Florence," we unmask the horrors lurking in the idyllic Tuscan hills. The story begins on a gruesome note with the discovery of Antonio Lo Bianco a…
Behind the Bloodstains with Jo Millington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this special episode of "Foul Play: Crime Series," recorded live from Crimecon in Glasgow, we're excited to sit down with the formidable Jo Millington, a forensic scientist with over 25 years of experience. Jo will gu…
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Duration: 1:26:38
...1 eerie corn maze......9 haunting figures......9 spine-tingling tales......Will YOU find your way out? This holiday season, step into a labyrinth of shadows and suspense with Shane Waters as your guide. In this chilli…
Baltimore: Bankruptcy Shields Predators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:17
Who Stands to Gain? The Complex Web of Archdiocesan Bankruptcies and Sister Cathy’s Unsolved Murder. After funneling an extensive amount of resources into fighting against survivors in Maryland to preserve the statute of…
Midwest USA: Closing in on Truck Stop Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:14
In this gripping episode the courtroom becomes the stage as we recount the trial and sentencing of Robert Ben Rhoades, the notorious Truck Stop Killer. The episode unravels the intense legal battle that ensued following…
Midwest USA: Truck Stop Killer Pursuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:39
Episode 2 on the Truck Stop Killer season intensifies as we explore the depths of Robert Ben Rhoades's depravity. This episode recounts the chilling breakthrough in the case when a state trooper's routine check turned in…