Denise Huber- Part 1
Morbid
07/06/23
•45m
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On the evening of June 2, 1991, twenty-three-year-old Denise Huber went out to a concert in Inglewood, California with a friend. While driving home after the concert, Denise got a flat tire on the Corona del Mar Freeway, just a few miles from her home in Newport Beach. Two days later, the car was discovered abandoned and Denise was nowhere to be found.
The disappearance of Denise Huber prompted a massive search operation in southern California and garnered considerable media attention, but their efforts turned up nothing. Years later, in 1994, a woman buying paint from a handy man in Dewey, Arizona grew suspicious of the man selling her the paint and reported her hunch to local police, including the man’s license plate number. When they ran the plate, it turned out the truck had been stolen. When they searched the vehicle a week later, investigators discovered a chest freezer in the back of the vehicle. Inside, they found the answer to a case that had stalled for years.
Thank you to the talented David White for research assistance.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Previous Episode
Hayward Bissell and the Murder of Patricia Booher
July 3, 2023
•68m
On January 24, 2000, sheriff’s deputies in Mentone, Alabama stopped an older model Lincoln with Ohio plates that they suspected was involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier that day. The driver was thirty-seven-year-old Hayward Bissell of Norwalk, Ohio and strapped into the seat beside him was the remains of his twenty-four-year-old girlfriend, Patricia Booher. To the deputies’ horror, Booher’s hand and leg had been severed from her body, her eyes had been gouged out, and her heart and liver had been torn out, but were still in the car. Further investigation revealed that, in addition to Booher’s murder, Bissell had also attempted to kill two other couples on what appeared to be a rampage across two states.
Thank you to the ever so talented David White for research assistance :)
-Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance -
Website:sczaction.org
Services: Education and support groups
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Website:nami.org
Services: General resources for mental health
Domestic Violence:
-US Hotline Number: 1(800)-799-7233
-The Battered Women's Justice Project: **We donated to them, I met with them and they are amazing**
Website: BWJP.org
Services: Free legal help
-Center For Domestic Peace
Website: Centerfordomesticpeace.org
Services: Support groups
References
Acton, Andy. 2000. "Secret Service questions man in mutilation case." Birminghm Post-Herald, January 26: 23.
Associated Press. 2002. "Mental illness plea accepted." Atlanta Constitution , February 8: D12.
—. 2000. "Couple honors heroic Labrador retrievers." Birmingham Post-Herald, March 15: 16.
—. 2001. "Man held in mutilation slaying to undergo more mental tests." Macon Telegraph, August 13: 12.
—. 2000. "Police probe mutilation death of woman." The Anniston Star, Janaury 25: 8.
—. 2000. "Suspect in mutilation death of woman to be sent to mental hsopital." The Anniston Star, January 26: 12.
Bradley, Eric. 2000. "Manty native relates tale of terror." Manitowoc Herald-Times, Jul 7: 1.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. 2000. "Mental tests urged for slaying suspect." Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Janaury 27: 14.
Harper, Carol. 2000. "Dismay, disbelief follow mutilation death." Sandusky Register, January 26.
Johnson, Sheila. 2013. Blood Highway. New York, NY: Pinnacle Books.
Nowak, Joe. 2000. "Victim's father in prison for rape." Norwalk Reflector, January 25.
Nowak, Joe, and Jonathan Rickard. 2000. "Suspect has history of violent behavior." Norfolk Reflector, January 25.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Next Episode
Denise Huber- Part 2
July 10, 2023
•52m
In Part 2, we talk through the killer’s background and troubling history with women in his life. We also go through Denise’s horrific injuries, as well as the investigation and trial that followed.
Thank you to the stupendous David White for research assistance.
References
Associated Press. 1994. "No bail for suspect in bizarre slaying." Arizona Daily Sun, July 21: 10.
Cekola, Anna. 1997. "For Hubers, relief at 'a step in justice, anticipation of next one." Los Angeles Times,
May 23: A24.
Dobruck, Jeremiah. 2016. "The wound that never heals." Los Angeles Times, July 1.
Gomez, James. 1991. "Banner used in search for woman." Los Angeles Times, July 3: 129.
—. 1991. "Denise Huber probably dead, investigator says." Los Angeles Times, October 10: 214.
—. 1991. "Hope keeps a search alive." Los Angeles Times, June 27: 224.
Gomez, James, and Eric Lichtblau. 1991. "Was missing woman victim of foul play." Los Angeles Times,
June 6: 227.
Hernandez, Greg. 1997. "Famalaro defense charges witness is biased ." Los Angeles Times, February 22:
309.
—. 1997. "Famalaro defense rests after trying to refute special circumstances." Los Angeles Times, May
21: B4.
—. 1997. "Famalaro judge unswayed by argument denying kidnapping." Los Angeles Times, May 15: B3.
—. 1997. "Famalaro jury told that the victim had drinks." Los Angeles Times, May 20: B1.
—. 1997. "Famalaro quickly convicted in Huber sex murder case." Los Angeles Times, May 23: 1.
—. 1997. "Killer who froze body sentenced to die." Los Angeles Times, September 6: A24.
—. 1997. "Prosecutor describes stranded motorist's last hours." Los Angeles Times, May 9: A3.
—. 1997. "Unraveling mysteries of Huber case." Los Angeles Times, April 21: 53.
Ko, Mimi. 1992. "Daughter is gone, then cancer hits." Los Angeles Times, November 7: 220.
Lasseter, Don. 1998. Cold Storage: A Killer with a Heart of Ice. New York, NY: Pinnacle Books.
Lindsbaum, Mark. 1991. "Impasse in search from woman doesn't shake faith." Los Angeles Times,
September 8: 408.
Los Angeles Times. 1991. "Abandoned car on freeway spurs search for Newport Beach woman." Los
Angeles Times, June 5: 107.
Pinsky, Mark. 1995. "Famalaro trial delayed until next April." Los Angeles Times, April 11: 136.
Reza, H.G., and Tammy Hyunjoo Kresta. 1994. "Body is identified as Denise Huber." Los Angeles Times,
July 17: 137.
Tabor, Gail. 1994. "Parents' search ends." Arizona Republic, July 18: 1.
The People vs. John Famalaro. 2011. S064306 (Supreme Court of California, July 7).
The People vs. John Famalaro. 2007. S064306 (Supreme Court of the State of California, April 11).
Villa, Judy, and David Schwartz. 1994. "Police fear other victims in home where freezer held woman's
corpse." Arizona Republic, July 18: 1.
Wilgoren, Jodi. 1994. "Famalaro faces sex charges in Huber slaying." Los Angeles Times, September 30:
136.
Yokoi, Iris. 1992. "Family of missing woman still hopeful." Los Angeles Times, June 3: 102.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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