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Once Upon A Crime
Once Upon A Crime
Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims and perpetrators and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Once Upon A Crime

Over 10 Million Downloads

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims and perpetrators and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Recent Episodes

Dec. 14, 2025

Bonus: John Wayne Gacy: A Case Review & Peacock’s “Devil in Disguise”

In this bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime , Esther revisits the horrific crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy , often referred to as “The Killer Clown,” and reviews the 2025 Peacock docu-drama Devil in Disguise: John Wayn...
Dec. 8, 2025

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder — Bonus Episode: Series Wrap-Up + Q&A

In this special bonus episode, Esther and producer Lorena answer listener questions and share their own reflections after a six-week deep dive into the life, death, and murder of Elizabeth Short. Topics include: • Who the rea...
Dec. 1, 2025

The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Six: The Black Dahlia Legacy

In the sixth and final episode of our series Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we explore the enduring cultural legacy of one of America’s most haunting unsolved crimes. For nearly eight decades, Elizabeth Short’s name, and t...
Nov. 24, 2025

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Five: Severed

In Part Five of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we examine the discovery of Elizabeth Short’s mutilated body, the forensic evidence revealed by the autopsy, and how early investigative missteps and media sensationalism dera...
Nov. 17, 2025

The First Suspects - The Black Dahlia Files

In this bonus episode, Esther takes listeners back to the earliest days of the Black Dahlia investigation — before the world even knew the victim’s name. Detectives faced a gruesome and mystifying crime scene in a quiet Los A...
Nov. 10, 2025

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Four: The Black Dahlia’s Lost Week

In this fourth installment of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we trace Elizabeth Short’s final, mysterious days — the missing week between her last confirmed sightings in early January 1947 and the shocking discovery of her...

About the Hosts

Esther Ludlow Profile Photo
Esther Ludlow

Producer and Host

Esther Ludlow has been interested in true crime since she was a teen and has been podcasting since 2012. She launched her true crime podcast, Once Upon a Crime in June of 2016. In only 8 months, the podcast had over 1 million listens and the audience continues to grow. Her love for storytelling combined with her interest in true crime and her background in psychology creates a unique and compelling podcast.

Esther writes, produces and edits the podcast as a solo venture. Once Upon a Crime presents true crime stories chapter by chapter. Each episode stands alone and cases are grouped by topic. Esther has covered the kidnapping cases of Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard, celebrity stalkers Mark David Chapman and John Hinckley, and historical cases including Kitty Genovese, Mary Bell and Charles Starkweather.

Lorena Garcia Profile Photo
Lorena Garcia

Executive Producer

Once Upon A Crime's right hand, Lorena Garcia can be found behind the scenes, handling everything from audio production, administrative tasks, social media, and everything in between. From a young age, Lorena found interest in films and literature based on true crime events. As she matured so did her passion for true crime. Aside from assisting with OUAC, Lorena is a skincare enthusiast, world traveler, competitive jigsaw puzzler, and cat mom.
She says being a part of the Once Upon A Crime team is the ultimate dream job.

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