The Tragic Murder of Grace Millane
Morbid
06/15/23
•62m
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On December 2, 2018, the parents of twenty-one-year-old Grace Millane, a British tourist on vacation in New Zealand, became concerned when the birthday wishes they sent their daughter went unacknowledged. Having completed her degree at the University of Lincoln a few months earlier, Grace had spent several weeks traveling during her gap year but had been keeping in regular contact with her parents since leaving for her trip. When they still hadn’t heard from their daughter three days later, Grace’s parents called Auckland police and reported her missing. A week later, Grace Millane’s body was discovered in a suitcase near an access road in the Waitakere Ranges, a dense wooded area about twelve miles outside Auckland. A day later, investigators arrested twenty-six-year-old Jesse Kempson, who was the last person seen with Grace on the night of the murder when the two were captured together by a CCTV camera going up to Kempson’s room at the CityLife Hotel.
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Thank you to our favorite David White for research assistance
References
BBC News. 2018. Grace Millane: Man appears in court charged with backpacker's murder. December 10. Accessed May 3, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-46502649.
Creed, Rebecca. 2021. "Former flatmate of Grace Millane's killer says he was." The Echo, November 15.
Critchell, Matthew. 2019. "Backpacker Grace spoke to men on bondage chat rooms,." The Echo, November 20.
Emes, Toby. 2019. "Accused killer admitted Grace was dead in second interview." The Echo, November 14.
Faulkner, Doug. 2019. Grace Millane murder: A trial that gripped a nation. November 22. Accessed May 2, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-50515326.
Feehan, Katie. 2018. "Brother of Wickford woman missing in New Zealand says lack." The Echo, December 5.
—. 2018. "Police release last known image of missing Wickford woman." The Echo, December 6.
Graham-Mclay, Charlotte. 2018. "After backpacker's killing, New Zealand looks again at violence against women." New York Times, December 13.
—. 2018. "New Zealand murder case leads to rebuke of Google." New York Times, December 15.
—. 2018. "New Zealander accused of killing tourist." New York Times, December 9.
Humphries, Will, and Bernard Lagan. 2018. "Distraught father flies to join backpacker search." The Times, December 7.
Jesse Shane Kempson v. The Queen. 2021. SC 11/2021 NZSC 74 (Supreme Court of New Zealand, June 29).
Kirk, Tristan. 2019. "Guilty: Fantasist who killed Grace." London Evening Standard, November 22.
—. 2019. "Guilty: Grace jury takes only five hours to return verdict of murder." London Evening Standard, November 22.
Kolirin, Lianne. 2020. "Grace Millane's killer attacked other women." The Times, December 22.
Lagan, Bernard. 2018. "Body found in search for missing backpacker." The Times, December 10.
—. 2019. "British backpacker's 'killer' lied about their Tinder date." The Times, November 13.
Lagan, Bernard, and Will Humphries. 2018. "Father appeals for clues to help find missing daughter." The Times, December 8.
Leask, Anna. 2020. Who is Grace Millane's murderer? Unravelling labyrinth of lies and a fatal Tinder date. February 20. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/who-is-grace-millanes-murderer-unravelling-labyrinth-of-lies-and-a-fatal-tinder-date/PDGHMSM67MZQ5VBH4GT2XIXZ7Q/?c_id=1&objectid=12287282.
MacDonald, Stuart. 2021. "'Rough sex' defence for murder could be banned." The Times, May 29.
Roy, Eleanor Ainge. 2019. "Grace Millane trial: blood in hotel room likely backpacker's." The Guardian, November 8.
—. 2019. "Grace Millane trial: witness says she feared she would die." The Guardian, November 11.
—. 2019. "'She should have been safe here'." The Guardian, November 22.
Smith, Anneka. 2020. "Grace Millane's life: far more than the details of her death." Radio New Zealand, February 21.
South Wales Echo. 2020. "Grace's killer 'raped another...
Previous Episode
The Murder Of Elizabeth Riser & The Attempted Murder Of Brandi Hicks
June 12, 2023
•72m
On May 23, 2000, teens Elizabeth "Liz" Reiser and Brandi Hicks went down to the local video store in New Philadelphia, Ohio to rent a movie. While there, they met a man who told them he had no way to get home and would pay them $20 if they would give him a ride. Both girls believed in helping their fellow human, so they agreed after a bit of hesitation.
What began as a routine act of charity quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in the murder of Liz Reiser and the attempted rape and attempted murder of Brandi Hicks by the man they had intended to help, Mathew Vaca. The crimes committed against Reiser and Hicks were brutal and sent shockwaves through the small Ohio community.
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)
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Next Episode
Elroy Kent & The Murder of Delia Congdon
June 19, 2023
•82m
On the morning of July 24, 1908, Delia Congdon, a deaf and non-verbal woman living alone in East Wallingford, Vermont, was found dead in her pantry—presumed to have been murdered while she prepared breakfast. At first, investigators suspected a local criminal known for his violent behavior; however, within a day, an unusual clue discovered in Congdon’s barn pointed them towards Elroy Kent, a notorious local thief and recent escapee from a nearby psychiatric hospital whose petty criminal antics had plagued police for decades. With a caveat of mental illness at stake, Kent's trial and execution came under heavy scrutiny.
Thank you to the magical and mystical Dave for research assistance.
References
Bennington Banner. 1909. "Elroy Kent found guilty in the 1st degree." Bennington Banner, April 10: 1.
—. 1909. "Shocking Tales in Elroy Kent murder trial." Bennington Banner, April 01: 1.
Bennington Evening Banner. 1908. "Bloodhounds at East Dorset on Kent's trail." Bennington Evening Banner, August 1: 1.
—. 1908. "Escaped lunatic through to be murderer ." Bennington Evening Banner, July 27: 1.
—. 1909. "Evidence against Elroy Kent is increasing." Bennington Evening Banner, April 2: 1.
—. 1908. "Tracing Kent by mania for name carving." Bennington Evening Banner, August 6: 1.
Boston Daily Globe. 1908. "Denies killing Delia Congdon." Boston Daily Globe, October 27: 9.
—. 1902. "Jumped from train." Boston Daily Globe, December 9: 3.
—. 1909. "Kent "faking" says Shirres." Boston Daily Globe, April 9: 8.
—. 1909. "Kent must die in 1911." Boston Daily Globe, November 3: 9.
—. 1912. "State aghast at Kent mishap." Boston Daily Globe, Janaury 6: 8.
Brattleboro Reformer. 1905. "Elroy Kent heard from." Brattleboro Reformer, October 6: 1.
Burlington Clipper. 1902. "May do some good." Burlington Clipper, February 8: 2.
Burlington Daily News. 1909. "Testimony against Kent." Burlington Daily News, April 3: 1.
—. 1908. "Want $10,000 for an alleged libel." Burlington Daily News, August 25: 1.
Burlington Free Press. 1908. "Foul murder in East Wallingford." Burlington Free Press, July 25: 1.
—. 1909. "Grout may be called to stand." Burlington Free Press, April 5: 1.
Daily Journal. 1908. "Elroy Kent under arrest ." Daily Journal, October 24: 1.
Montpelier Evening Argus. 1909. "Kent pleads not guilty." Montpelier Evening Argus, March 30: 1.
New York Times. 1908. "Gte insane murder suspect." New York Times, October 25: 20.
Reformer, Brattleboro. 1908. "Elroy Kent a murderer?" Brattleboro Reformer, July 31: 1.
Rumboldt, John. 2013. Murder on Sugar Hill. Family history, genealogy, Rutland, VT: Rutland Historical Society.
Rutlad Daily Herald. 1961. "Two instances." Rutland Daily Herald, March 24: 8.
Rutland Daily Herald. 1905. "Insane criminal still at large." Rutland Daily Herald, August 19: 7.
—. 1908. "Murdered in E. Wallingford." Rutland Daily Herald, July 25: 1.
St. Albans Daily Messenger . 1905. "Escaped last night." St. Albans Daily Messenger, August 12: 1.
St. Albans Daily Messenger. 1902. "Elroy Kent back in jail." St. Albans Daily Messenger, December 8: 1.
—. 1905. "Elroy Kent captured." St. Albans Daily Messenger, October 23: 1.
State vs. Elroy Kent. 1909. NA (Supreme Court for the State of Vermont, October 1).
Vermont Phoenix. 1902. "Burglar with record." Vermont Phoenix, January 31: 2.
—. 1905. "Elroy Kent, notorious criminal arrested." Vermont Phoenix, October 27: 2.
Veront Journal. 1902. "News and notes." Vermont Journal, March 8: 8.
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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