Listen Now: Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Morbid
06/07/23
•9m
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From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal, and what happens when “doing good” goes really, really bad.
When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world’s richest 29-year-old, he pledged to donate his billions to good causes. But when Sam's crypto exchange FTX collapsed, billions of dollars went missing, and Sam was in handcuffs, those who knew him were left wondering — who was Sam really? A well-meaning billionaire who made a mistake? Or a calculated con man?
Listen to Spellcaster: Wondery.fm/SC_Morbid
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Previous Episode
The Devil Made Me Do It
June 5, 2023
•77m
On the evening of February 16, 1981, nineteen-year-old Arne Johnson stabbed his friend and landlord Alan Bono to death during an argument, after which Johnson fled the scene and was arrested several miles away later that night. Under normal circumstances, the murder of one man by another in a small town would hardly register on the scale of national, or even regional news, but if Arne Johnson was to be believed, these weren’t ordinary circumstances. According to Arne, the devil made him do it.
Thank you to Dave White for research assistance.
References:
Associated Press. 1986. "Man released early in 'demon murder case'." Hartford Courant, January 23: 47.
Brozek, Diane. 1981. "Teen-ager charged in 'possession' case." Hartford Courant, March 20: 11.
Carl Glatzel Jr. et al v. Gerald Brittle et al. 2010. DBCV-08-4008461-S (Connecticut Superior Court Judicial District of Danbury, October 25).
Christoffersen, John. 2007. "Suit vs. psychic says demon murder was a hoax." Record-Journal, October 10: M3.
Clendinen, Dudley. 1981. "Defendant in murder puts the devil on trial." New York Times, March 23: B1.
Galup. n.d. Religion. Accessed May 10, 2023. https://news.gallup.com/poll/1690/religion.aspx.
Harris, John. 1981. "Bizarre happenings surround killing in Brookfield." Hartford Courant, February 27: 2.
—. 1981. "Critics bedevil demonolgist, attorney in slaying case ." Hartford Courant, June 22: B1.
—. 1981. "'Demon' murder case sent to Danbury jury." Hartford Courant, November 21: 8.
—. 1981. "Exorcism, demons' role argued." Hartford Courant, March 15: 1.
—. 1981. "Johnson guilty in demons case." Hartford Courant, November 25: 1.
—. 1981. "Judge bars demonic possession defense." Hartford Courant, October 29: 1.
Healion, James. 1981. "A barmaid testified Thursday that murder suspect Arne Cheyenne..." United Press International, November 5.
—. 1981. "A judge Wednesday threw out the 'demon defense'." United Press International, October 28.
—. 1981. "Judge Robert J. Callahan Thursday refused to reconsider his decision." United Press International, October 29.
—. 1981. "The murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson in Danbury." United Press International, November 13.
Pionzio, Melissa. 2007. "'Factual' exorcism book evokes past pain." Hartford Courant, October 14: B1.
Putcamp, Luise. 1981. "Supernatural episodes form prelude to killing." Buffalo Evening News, July 30: 1.
—. 1981. "Suspect's alibi: He was possessed." Buffalo Evening News, August 5: 2.
Stagis, Julie. 2014. "Killer's defense: He was possessed." Hartford Courant, April 22: B1.
2006. A Haunting. Directed by Stuart Taylor. Produced by Tom Naughton.
United Press International. 1981. "'Demon slayer' gets 10-to-20 year sentence." United Press International, December 18.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. n.d. Exorcism. Accessed May 8, 2023. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/sacramentals-blessings/exorcism.
Walzer, E.B. 1982. "Appeal dropped in 'demon' case." The Reporter Dispatch, March 19: 2.
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
The Murder of Dawn Hacheney
June 8, 2023
•93m
On the morning of December 26, 1997, police and fire services responded to a call about a structure fire at the home Bremerton, WA home of Nick and Dawn Hacheney. When they were finally able to extinguish the flames and search the home, they discovered the badly burned body of twenty-eight-year-old Dawn Hachney in her bed, where her husband had left her several hours earlier. After a brief investigation, Dawn’s death was determined to be the result of an accidental fire—a tragic end to a short life, nothing more.
The case, which most had considered closed years earlier, was revived in April of 2001, when a woman went to Bremerton Police with a startling statement. She claimed to have been having an affair with Dawn’s husband Nick, at the time of Dawn’s death and that, at some point during their affair, he’d confessed to drugging his wife and setting the house on fire to cover up the murder. Investigators took the woman’s claims very seriously; however, Nick Hacheney was a former minister, which added to people's perception of the case.
Thank you to the gorgeous, vibrant and talented David White for Research assistance
References:
Associated Press. 2002. "Former minister on trial in wife's death." The News Tribune, November 11: 16.
Baker, Travis. 2003. "Angry words erupt at Hacheney Sentencing." Kitsap Sun, February 8: 1.
—. 2002. "Defense presses woman who pointed finger." Kitsap Sun, November 27: 4.
—. 2001. "Ex-minister might face life in prison without parole." Kitsap Sun, October 4: 1.
—. 2001. "Ex-minister pleads innocent in wife's death." Kitsap Sun, September 18: 1.
—. 2002. "Former minister guilty of murdering wife." Kitsap Sun, December 27: 1.
—. 2001. "Hacheney denied reduced bail." Kitsap Sun, October 27: 4.
—. 2002. "Judge: Jury will hear of alleged wife killer's affairs." Kitsap Sun, February 28: 10.
—. 2002. "Pathologist testifies about changing autopsy results." Kitsap Sun, November 13: 3.
—. 2002. "Sexual affairs not relevant, attorney argues." Kitsap Sun, February 9: 5.
—. 2002. "Trial begins for ex-minister accused of killing wife." Kitsap Sun, November 4: 1.
Kitsap Sun. 1997. "Dawn Hacheney Obituary." Kitsap Sun, December 30: 5.
McCormick, Julie. 2001. "Former minister suspect in wife's death." Kitsap Sun, September 14: 1.
Olsen, Gregg. 2010. A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder that Destroyed a Church. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.
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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