The Lipstick Killer (Part 1)
Morbid
03/21/24
•74m
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On June 5, 1945, forty-three-year-old Josephine Ross was found stabbed to death in her Chicago apartment. Nothing had been stolen from Ross’ apartment and it appeared as though there were ritualistic aspects to the murder, but with little evidence and no suspects, the case hit a dead end almost as soon as it started. Ross’ murder came to detectives’ minds six months later, when another Chicago woman, Frances Brown, was found murdered in her apartment. This time an ominous message was scrawled on the wall in red lipstick: “For heavens sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself.”
The brutal nature of the two murders, and the implication that the killer would strike again, terrified the women of Chicago, and that fear was stoked by the city’s five major newspapers, who were in a daily battle for readers’ attention. The story reached a fever pitch just one month later when six-year-old Suzanne Degnan was abducted from her bedroom by someone who’d entered through an open window. Despite the presence of a ransom note demanding $20,000, investigators discovered Degnan’s dismembered body in the sewer a short time later.
Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research!
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
Sabrina & Corinne from Two Girls One Ghost join us on this week's episode to talk about the dark histories behind childhood nursery rhymes. Fresh off of our ghost hunting experience at the Lizzie Borden house, we talk about the childhood rhyme and where it went wrong, as well as talk about others that SEEMED so innocent!
Don't forget to check the episode on the Two Girls One Ghost feed where we talk about our ghost hunting experiences! It was WILD!
Thank you to the wonderful Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Burton-Hill, Clemency. 2015. The dark side of nursery rhymes. June 10. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150610-the-dark-side-of-nursery-rhymes.
Hazlett, Lisa A. 2009. "The use of British nursery rhymes and contemporary technology as venues for creating and expressing hidden literacies throughout time by children, adolescents, and adults." Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table.
Opie, Iona, and Peter Opie. 1952. The Oxofrd Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Roberts, Chris. 2005. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme. Sheridan, WY: Gotham Books.
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 Lipstick Killer (Part 2)
March 25, 2024
•70m
The brutal murders of Ross, Brown, and Degnan shocked the city of Chicago and terrified and outraged the city’s residents, who wanted only to feel safe once again. Under intense pressure from the press, the public, and city officials, investigators were desperate to catch the killer and solve the case by any means necessary, even if they had to break more than a few rules and ignore some inconvenient facts in order to do it.
Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research!References
Amended Petition for Executive Clemency. 2002. C-06103 (Illinois Prisoner Review Board, April).
Arizona Republic . 1946. "Defendant fails in plea to jury." Arizona Republic, June 20: 18.
Banks, Joe. 1946. "Prisoner says he killed girl." Tucson Daily Citizen, June 26: 1.
Chicago Tribune. 1946. "Police resift all clues in Degnan case." Chcago Tribune, January 12: 1.
—. 1946. "2 rewards offered for 'execution' of girl's kidnap-slayer." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 2.
—. 1946. "Call Heirens sane; today's plea in doubt." Chicago Tribune, September 4: 1.
—. 1946. "Child stolen from her bed during the night." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 1.
—. 1945. "Ex-WAVE slain, plea written in red on wall." Chicago Tribune, December 11: 1.
—. 1946. "Handwriting similarity to killer's shown." Chicago Tribune, June 27: 1.
—. 1946. "Heirens gets new grilling following 'futile' lie test." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 1.
—. 1946. "Heirens made choice of plea, attorneys say." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 12.
—. 1946. "Murders, assaults, thefts, shooting; Heirens' story." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 1.
—. 1945. "Mystery grows in WAVE slaying." Chicago Tribune, December 12: 1.
—. 1943. "Organize posse of tenants and catch prowler." Chicago Tribune, August 9: 18.
—. 1946. "Repudiates his 'confession' in Degnan slaying." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 6.
—. 1946. "Student held in Degnan case puzzles police." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1.
—. 1946. "Tubs in basement, saw and ax held best clews." Chicago Tribune, January 9: 1.
—. 1946. "U.C. Sophomore, facing police quiz, fakes coma." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1.
—. 1946. "Use of serum in Heirens quiz still mystery." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 5.
—. 1945. "Widow is found in home; suitor quizzed." Chicago Tribune, June 6: 10.
Decatur Daily Review. 1946. "Chicago girl kidnapped; note demands $20,000." Decatur Daily Review, January 7: 1.
—. 1946. "Janitors grilled in kidnap-death." Decatur Daily Review, January 9: 1.
Decatur Herald. 1945. "Brutal WAVE slayer sought." Decatur Herald, December 12: 1.
Higgins, Michael. 2007. "1940s killer denied parole." Chicago Tribune, August 3: 1.
—. 2007. "Is 61 years in prison enough retribution." Chicago Tribune, July 29: 1.
Kennedy, Dolores. 1991. William Heirens: His Day in Court. New York, NY: Bonus Books.
New York Times. 1946. "Heirens confesses in no-chair deal." New York Times, August 7: 36.
Pantagraph. 1945. "Former Wave found brutally slain in Chicago bathtub." Pantagraph, December 10: 1.
People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1954. 33165 (Supreme Court of Illinois, September 23).
People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1995. 1-90-2240 (Appellate Court of the State of Illinois, March 15).
Priddy, Gladys. 1945. "Slain ex-WAVE a friend to all, roomate says." Chicago Tribune, December 14: 3.
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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