S6 Ep249: Final Curtain Call: Theatre of Pain - The Murders of Daniel Wozniak

This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly.  Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan.  When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”.

Sources:

“Actor is held in double slaying.” Los Angeles Times, 29 05 2010, 
 
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104583077/actor-is-held-in-double-slaying/.

“Actress convicted of lying to police about ex-fiance's double murder pleads innocence in  interrogation tapes.” ABC News, 30 May 2019, 

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/actress-convicted-lying-police-fiances-double-murder- pleads/story?id=63234575 . Accessed 4 July 2022.

“As coldblooded as a murderer gets.” Los Angeles Times, 09 01 2016, 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104976453/as-coldblooded-as-a-murderer-gets/.

Berg, Tom. “Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of Daniel Wozniak, accused  of killing 2, beheading one victim.” Orange County Register, 7 December 2015, 

https://www.ocregister.com/2015/12/07/justice-delayed-why-it-took-more-than-5-years- for-trial-of-daniel-wozniak-accused-of-killing-2-beheading-one-victim/. Accessed 4 July  2022.

“Brother of double killer is arrested.” Los Angeles Times, 24 12 2016, 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105002079/brother-of-double-killer-is-arrested/.

“Death Penalty for OC Killer.” Los Angeles Times, 12 01 2016, 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104977538/death-penalty-for-oc-killer/.

“Neighbor beheaded and his friend killed.” Modesto Bee, 29 05 2010, 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105001017/neighbor-beheaded-and-his-friend-killed/.

Pelisek, Christine. “Daniel Wozniak Murders Re-examined in New Podcast | PEOPLE.com.”  People, 28 August 2018, 

https://people.com/crime/daniel-wozniak-rachel-buffett-murders-in-new-podcast/.  Accessed 28 June 2022.

“Prosecutors will seek death penalty.” Los Angeles Times, 26 05 2012, 

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104951198/prosecutors-will-seek-death-penalty/.

Sclafani, Julia. “Double murderer's ex-fiancée is sentenced to jail as accessory after slayings.”  Los Angeles Times, 8 November 2018, 

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-buffet-sentencing-20181108- story.html. Accessed 4 July 2022.

“This community theater actor's final performance was a chilling confession to double murder.”  ABC News, 29 May 2019, 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/community-theater-actors-final-performance-chilling- confession-double/story?id=63181588. Accessed 4 July 2022.

“Woman pleads not guilty in beheading.” The Californian, 05 12 2012,

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104945493/woman-pleads-not-guilty-in-beheading/.

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Cinematic Background Sad by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8181-cinematic-background-sad

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Artist website: https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles
 

Stay The Course by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5048-stay-the-course

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Edge Of Forever by Tim Kulig

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8488-edge-of-forever

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license 
 

What Lurks In The Dark by Dave Deville

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8233-what-lurks-in-the-dark

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license