343. Dardeen Family Massacre

343. Dardeen Family Massacre

Author: Our True Crime Podcast January 21, 2026 Duration: 55:42
In the quiet, unassuming town of Ina, Illinois—where life moved slowly and danger felt distant—Keith and Elaine Dardeen were building a modest, faith-centered future with their young son, Peter, and a baby on the way. Their trailer sat tucked into the woods near the highway, close enough to hear passing traffic yet isolated enough to disappear into the darkness. When Keith failed to report for his night shift on November 18, 1987, concern quickly turned to dread as calls to the home went unanswered. What investigators would soon discover was beyond comprehension: the entire family had been brutally massacred. Join Jen and Cam on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Dardeen Family Massacre.’ Listener discretion is by @octoberpodVHS Music by our EP @theinkypawprint Sources: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141094349/ https://books.google.com/books?id=PEDSSsFlDOcC&pg=PA46 http://www.nwherald.com/2014/04/12/unsolved-1987-slaying-of-illinois-family-haunting/auj00b/ http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/pat-gauen/gauen-gruesome-illinois-mystery-appears-to-end-with-texas-execution/article_b5a3da6c-c649-5725-8a7e-23f96873f514.html http://www.14news.com/story/7372700/unsolved-murder-still-haunts-tri-state-family-two-decades-later https://thesouthern.com/news/article_51b2456d-80ff-5def-9511-6292e669c94e.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/03/13/13-year-vigil-of-fear-eases-in-illinois-town/ https://www.firstalert4.com/2022/01/21/gruesome-murder-an-illinois-family-remains-unsolved-main-suspect-is-executed/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1fzq8zj/on_the_evening_of_november_18_1987_police_went_to/ https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/11/05/heartland-unsolved-never-forget/ https://www.10minutemurder.com/blog/keith-and-elaine-dardeen-a-family-trying-to-escape-death/ https://medium.com/@tonyakpan45/the-dardeen-family-massacre-de3b9fdb5bb6 https://people.com/dardeen-murders-unsolved-who-killed-illinois-family-8649561 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a whole world of strange and unsettling stories that rarely make the headlines, and that's exactly where you'll find Our True Crime Podcast. Each episode digs into one of those bizarre, lesser-known cases from any corner of the globe, stories that often defy easy explanation. Hosts Jen and Cam guide you through these peculiar narratives with a genuine sense of respect for those involved, balancing the darker details with their own conversational chemistry and a bit of well-timed humor. You might even get a smidge of song along the way, because real life, especially the strange parts, rarely follows a single tone. This isn't just a retelling of facts; it's a shared exploration of the oddities hidden within human behavior and society. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who have a knack for finding the most compelling, offbeat tales. You'll hear the careful research, the thoughtful discussions, and the personal touch that Jen and Cam bring to every story, making even the most obscure case feel immediate and fascinating. If you're looking for a true crime experience that ventures far beyond the usual cases and does so with character and heart, you've found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Our True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
370. Bloodlines: The Murder of Yara Gambriasio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:01
Thank you to Fabi, our fantastic tour guide in Italy, for suggesting this case. I apologize in advance for any mispronunciations. When 13-year-old Yara Gambirasio vanished on a freezing November night in Brembate di Sopr…
369. From Fiction to Fatal: William Savage & Patsy Byers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:56
In Oklahoma, the Edmondson family was royalty. For decades, the Edmondson name had been synonymous with public service, integrity, and leadership. Some people even called them "the Kennedys of Oklahoma." It was because,…
368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:53
368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel On August 22nd, 1987, a man wearing a balaclava broke into a home in Lower Plenty, Australia. After tying up the parents and their young son, he brutally assaulted their eleven-y…
367.  Hidden Fort: Jonathan Sellers and Charlie Keever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:24
On March 27, 1993, the morning began like countless others for nine-year-old Jonathan Sellers and thirteen-year-old Charlie Keever. The two boys set off on their bicycles, planning nothing more extraordinary than a day o…
366. Monster on the M1: The Murders of Samo Paull & Tracey Turner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
The UK Midlands is a region steeped in history and folklore, from the ancient Kingdom of Mercia to the birthplace of Shakespeare. But on a freezing, misty day in December 1993, a peaceful village right off the M1 motorwa…
365. The Predator of East Harlem: Arohn Kee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:32
In January 1991, 13-year-old Paola Illera arrived home from school and stepped into the elevator of her East Harlem apartment building. She was only moments from her family's 30th-floor apartment, but she never made it u…
Special: Rogue Transmissions 4: DungeonPunk (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:35
Here's part 2! Enjoy! Rogue Transmissions--the edgy, semi-annual anthology of indie podcasts--is invading your podcast feed with DUNGEONPUNK PART 2 ... a symphony of 80s nostalgia, dystopian cyberpunk, and savage swords…
364. An Unholy Act: Elizabeth Mackintosh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:18
Thank you to Kimberly for the request. Creve Coeur, Missouri, is known for its affluent, charmed lifestyle. It's a kind of safe, quiet suburb where nothing bad ever happens. But in French, Creve Coeur translates to “brok…