Bonus: Halloween Horrors | The Trick or Treat Murder from American Criminal

Summary

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Crime and Coffee Couple – Bonus: Halloween Horrors | The Trick or Treat Murder from American Criminal

Hosts: Allison & Mike
Guest Episode: American Criminal (Host: Jeremy Schwartz)
Released: October 18, 2025

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Overview

In this chilling bonus episode, Allison and Mike of Crime and Coffee Couple showcase an episode from American Criminal’s Halloween series, “The Trick or Treat Murder.” Set in 1950s Los Angeles, the episode delves into the shocking Halloween night killing of Peter Fabiano—a seemingly random murder at the hands of a masked woman. The narrative expertly unspools the bizarre, manipulative events leading up to the murder, weaving together suburban drama, obsession, and the dark side of human relationships. With dramatized storytelling and a focus on lesser-known cases, the episode captures the unsettling intersection between cozy neighborhood trust and sudden, violent betrayal—evoking both period nostalgia and persistent true crime unease.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime: Halloween, 1957 (02:47–06:55)

• Setting: Sun Valley, California, late Halloween night.
• Crime Scene: Goldeen Pizer sits in a car, awaiting the right moment. Disguised with a domino mask and red gloves, she rings Peter Fabiano’s doorbell, posing as a late trick-or-treater.
• Murder: When Peter answers with a bowl of candy, Goldeen draws a revolver from a paper bag and fatally shoots him.
• Quote:
  • “She fits the mask onto her face, covering the area around her eyes with the bright gloves she almost looks like a comic book superhero. But Goldeen Pizer isn't here to save anyone.” — Narrator (03:50)
• Impact: The quiet suburban street is shattered, as neighbors and police scramble to solve the shocking murder.

2. The Fabiano Family & Background (07:35–10:49)

• Peter’s Journey: From WWII marine to salon owner; ambitious, charismatic, and admired in his profession.
• Marriage to Betty: Professional and personal partnership with salon owner Betty Solomon; stepfather to her two teenagers.
• Rising Tensions: Peter’s friction with Betty’s close friend Joan Robble, culminating in a marital rift and Betty briefly leaving Peter to stay with Joan.
• Control & Independence: Peter’s insistence on exclusivity versus Betty’s assertion, “She’s not Peter’s to command. Joan’s her friend, and she won’t be told who she can or cannot spend time with.” — Narrator (11:17)

3. The Night of the Murder (13:41–17:47)

• Halloween Routine: Family disperses for work, parties, and trick-or-treating; reconvenes for a late dinner.
• Attack: After 11 PM, everything seems normal until the doorbell rings again. Peter answers, assuming a last trick-or-treater, and is shot.
• Immediate Aftermath: Betty’s frantic attempts to save her husband, neighbor (and LAPD officer) Bud Alper’s rapid response, and the fatal realization that Peter is beyond help.
• Police Puzzle: The killer leaves behind few clues. There’s no robbery, and only a fleeting sighting of a car making a hurried getaway.

4. Investigation and Suspicion (19:09–24:41)

• Initial Suspects: Joan Robble quickly comes under suspicion due to her public hatred of Peter and shaky alibi.
• Circumstantial Evidence: Joan’s borrowing of a friend’s car (with a mileage discrepancy matching the murder’s time and location), her criminal background, and rumors about possible jealousy or even a love triangle with Betty.
• Public Speculation: Tabloids and police alike wonder:
  • “Were Joan and Betty fighting over Peter? Or—much more scandalous for 1957—were the two women having an affair?” — Narrator (22:31)
• Quote:
  • “One theory investigators float to the press is that some kids were unhappy with whatever candy they got ... and came back for vengeance. That really ratchets up the stakes.” — Narrator & Jeremy Schwartz (21:00–21:16)

5. The Breakthrough: A Strange Confession (24:41–26:41)

• Anonymous Tip: A PI alerts police to the murder weapon’s whereabouts and provides a taped confession—not from Joan, but from Goldeen Pizer, a seemingly ordinary woman with no known connection to Peter.
• Multi-layered Conspiracy: Goldeen immediately confesses to shooting Peter but insists she was manipulated by Joan, who masterminded the plot and orchestrated every step.
• Staged Confrontation (26:41–30:12): Police publicly bring Joan and Goldeen together; Goldeen, eager to unburden herself, tells her side to reporters and the public.

6. Motive, Manipulation, and Execution (30:18–35:54)

• Joan’s Influence: Goldeen details how Joan painted Peter as a violent threat and a “drug dealer” (31:09), convincing Goldeen that murder was the only solution to protect Betty.
• “I'd do anything for a friend.” — Goldeen Pizer (32:03)
  Joan manipulates Goldeen into purchasing the gun, planning the attack for Halloween to mask their identities.
• Execution & Aftermath: After the murder, Joan coldly thanks Goldeen and instructs her to erase all evidence of their association: “They can never meet again.” — Narrator (34:54)
• Guilt and Exposure: Goldeen, wracked with guilt, confesses to a private investigator, leading to her arrest and the unraveling of the plot.

7. Justice & Lingering Mysteries (35:58–37:47)

• Legal Resolution: Both Joan and Goldeen plead guilty to second-degree murder, avoiding trial. Each receives a sentence of five years to life.
• Aftermath:
  • The fate of both women becomes unclear—Goldeen allegedly released in 1971, Joan essentially vanishes from public record.
  • “No one knows … It seems that Joan was a woman who could easily manipulate the people in her life. … Perhaps she used that talent to work on the parole board. Or maybe they saw right through her disguise and knew … it was all a trick.” — Narrator (37:29–37:49)

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Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• On the power of real-life horror:

  • “You know what's even scarier? Real life.” — Jeremy Schwartz (06:23)

• On Joan’s manipulation:

  • “Everyone fixates on Joan, calling her a Svengali figure who cast some kind of spell of control on Goldeen.” — Narrator (35:48)

• On the psychology of the crime:

  • “‘I’d never hurt anyone,’ she says, ‘but I’d do anything for a friend.’” — Goldeen Pizer, via Narrator (32:03)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:47: The murder is set in motion—Halloween night, Goldeen’s vigil.
• 05:02: Peter is shot at his front door.
• 10:49: Background on Betty, Joan, and early tensions.
• 14:47: Details of the murder night and immediate aftermath.
• 19:09: Police investigation and community panic.
• 22:28: Media and police float theories; speculation about relationships/motives.
• 25:02: Goldeen Pizer emerges as the unexpected killer.
• 30:18: Goldeen’s confession and Joan’s manipulation described.
• 35:58–37:47: Legal resolution, the women's unknown fates, and legacy of the case.

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains an atmospheric, suspenseful tone with a Halloween chill and 1950s Los Angeles noir flavor. While the story is dark and harrowing, the narrative is deeply respectful of the victim and the community trauma, focusing on the tragic manipulation and psychological complexity of the crime.

Speaker Attribution:

• Jeremy Schwartz (Host/Narrator, American Criminal) delivers a dramatic, immersive account.
• Goldeen Pizer’s and Joan Robble’s voices are reconstructed through police records and confessions, highlighting the subtleties of psychological manipulation.

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Takeaways

• The “Trick or Treat Murder” stands as a cautionary tale about the dangers lurking beneath the surface of suburban life and the devastating impact of unchecked obsession and manipulation.
• Even in ordinary settings, crimes of passion and coercion can shatter notions of safety—underscoring that the true monsters are sometimes very human.
• The episode serves as an evocative opening to a Halloween-themed true crime series, blending meticulous research with engaging, dramatic storytelling.

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For more haunting true crime stories, visit Crime and Coffee Couple or American Criminal podcasts.

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Transcript

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[Mike (Podcast Host)]

And coffee couple listener. It's Mike here and I wanted to give you a bonus episode. It's American Criminal. It's a true crime history podcast from the studio behind American Scandal and American history tellers. And every week they go deeper into riveting stories of the country's most clever, craven and cruel criminals. Which is fantastic because we love alliteration. So, so this specific episode we're bringing you, it's about Halloween. American criminals bringing you three tales of real crimes with a spooky twist, a masked trick or treat slayer, a real life killer Candyman and a house so haunted it caused the brutal murders of an entire family. And today we're bringing you episode one of American Criminal's Halloween horror series, the Trick or Treat Murder. Enjoy.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It's Halloween night, 1957 and in Sun Valley, California. Community street is quiet and still. On the corner. A dark green sedan is parked outside number 13236. 43 year old Goldeen Pizer is in the passenger seat staring out the window. She's been sitting here for hours. When she first arrived, there were a few late trick or treaters still wandering around the neighborhood.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

But now it's empty and still Goldeen.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Waits, her eyes trained on the house across the wide lawn. Her reddish curls are swept neatly back from her face, her carefully manicured nails drumming against her thighs.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It's right around 11pm when it happens. The windows in the house all go dark.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Goldeen feels her heartbeat pick up.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

This is it. It's her time.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She reaches down to open the paper.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Bag at her feet, pulling out a.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Pair of red gloves and a black domino mask. She fits the mask onto her face, covering the area around her eyes with the bright gloves she almost looks like a comic book superhero. But Goldeen Pizer isn't here to save anyone. Properly disguised, she grabs the paper bag, gets out of the car and takes a de breath. She scans the street to make sure no one's around, then walks across the lawn and up the path to the front door of 13236.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She rings the doorbell.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

After a few seconds she rings it again. She hears footsteps approach the door and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Then it swings open.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

35 year old Peter Fabiano stands there, his eyebrows knit together in confusion. Goldeen's never met Peter before.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She's surprised by how handsome he is.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She sees his eyes sweep up and down, taking in her gloves, her paper bag, her mask. Then he says something.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Goldeen isn't sure what.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

All she can hear is a rushing.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Noise in her ears like the ocean.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

As she watches Peter reach for a large bowl on a table just inside the door. By the time Peter turns back towards her, holding out the nearly empty dish of Halloween candy, Goldeen's bowl revolver from her paper bag and is aiming it at Peter's chest with shaking hands. For a split second his eyes widen in shock. Then Goldeen squeezes the trigger.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

From airship I'm jeremy schwartz and this.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Is american criminals halloween. Welcome America, American Criminal listeners. I'm glad you are here for this special series at this time of year, everyone wants to hear stories about haunted.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Houses and killer clowns and demonic possessions.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And those things are all incredibly fun. But you know what's even scarier? Real life. So starting today, we're bringing you a collection of terrifyingly true stories with real.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Crimes at their dark centers.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

There's a trick or treater who terrified Los Angeles in 1957.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The Candyman Killer, who changed Halloween forever.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And the case of a house so infested with demons that it caused the murder of an entire family.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Or so the legend goes.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Today we're kicking things off in sunny California, where Peter Fabiano was gunned down at his front door by a costumed assailant who fled into the night. In the wake of the crime, Peter's family and investigators were asking all the usual questions. Had Peter done something to attract that kind of violence? And who could possibly have hated him.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

So much that they wanted him dead?

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But the people of Los Angeles were asking a different question.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Would Halloween ever be safe again?

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

This is episode one in our Halloween.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Horror series, the Trick or Treat Murder. It's the summer of 1953, four years.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Before Goldeen Pizer shoots Peter Fabiano in a hair salon just south of the famous Los angeles farmers market. 31 year old Peter's having his hair cut. But this isn't a regular appointment.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It's a date.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The woman cutting his hair is Betty Solomon. They've been seeing each other for a.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Couple of months, and today she's treating.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Him to a cut at the salon she owns. As they chat, Betty remarks that Peter.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Would make a great stylist. He's good with his hands, and after.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Years of working as a bartender, he's sure got a knack for talking with strangers. Before he tended bar, Peter was a marine during World War II, so he's always thought of himself as a pretty masculine guy.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Working in salons feels like women's work to him.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But then again, maybe he could make.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Better money if he learned to trade. He could even open his own business if he wanted, like Betty.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And thanks to the GI Bill, he could get a good chunk of the tuition covered by the government. So not long after Betty makes the suggestion, Peter enrolls at beauty school. And he finds that he actually enjoys cutting hair. And just like Betty said, he's got.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A knack for it. It's the start of a new life for him. And it ushers in a new chapter.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

In his relationship, too. He starts working at Betty's salon on Fairfax, impressing customers with his skill and earning plenty of fans with his good looks and charm. At the beginning of 1955, Peter and Betty get married and move into a.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

House in sun Valley, about 11 miles north of Hollywood.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

They're joined by Richard and Judy, Betty's two teenage children from a previous marriage. And everything appears appears to be going.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Well for the newlyweds.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Peter convinces Betty that it's time for.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Her to open a second salon, and they buy a place about four miles from their home. Peter takes the lead at this location.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And he's well liked by his employees and customers.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

From the outside, anyone would think it's a perfect life. But it's not like in a lot of marriages. There's friction.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And in 1956, in Things Start to get worse.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

All thanks to Betty's friend, Joan Robble.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Betty's known Joan since before she met.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Peter, so the two of them have a pretty solid friendship.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Born in Lithuania, Joan's a freelance photographer who also works part time selling cosmetics at Betty's salon in Hollywood.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And she's never liked Peter. She badmouths him around the salon, and she doesn't even try to hide it from Betty.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She's always trying to convince her friend.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That Peter doesn't deserve her, that he.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Doesn'T respect her as a successful businesswoman.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Part of this might be Joan projecting she's going through a divorce around this time, which can't be easy for her.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But that's no excuse for her to.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Try and instigate fights between Peter and Betty.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Apart from anything else, they're her employer.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

So it's not a great financial decision. Peter's no dummy either. He knows that Joan hates him even.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

If he doesn't understand why.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And after a while, he's sick of this woman trying to mess with his marriage.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

So late in the spring of 1957, he tells Betty that she's got to.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Cut Joan out of their lives completely. They're gonna get rid of her from.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The salon, and then Betty's gonna stop seeing her.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It'll be a clean break.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Of course, Peter said says all of this expecting that his wife's going to do exactly as he tells her.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That's what he thinks a marriage is. But Betty's got different ideas. She's not Peter's to command. Joan's her friend, and she won't be told who she can or cannot spend time with.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The argument over Joan gets bigger and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Bigger, with neither of them willing to back down. And eventually, Betty's had enough.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She tells Peter that she's leaving. She packs a suitcase and heads to stay with Joan in West Hollywood.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Obviously, Peter's annoyed about all of this.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He doesn't understand why Betty doesn't see.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

How toxic Joan is.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Their separation makes things awkward around both.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Of their salons for a few weeks.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The staff have always enjoyed gossiping about their bosses, but this is a new.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Level of drama altogether.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The tension ends abruptly though. After about a month, Betty moves back home and says she was wrong to take Joan's side over his. Peter's so gratified to hear her say.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That, he doesn't even ask what made her change her mind.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He just smiles when Betty says she'll cut off all contact with Joan and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Tells her whatever you think is best.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Now reconciled, the couple are as happy as they ever were. They spend a sweltering summer together and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Are relieved when the heat finally breaks. At the end of September, with the.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Beginning of fall, Betty starts making plans for their holidays. They're coming up on their three year.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Anniversary and she decides they should celebrate with a Christmas party in December.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

While Betty's making arrangements for the event, Peter's hitting new heights in his career. In early October, he wins a hairstyling competition held at the upscale Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. So as fall brings a cool change across the city, it seems that the Fabianos are in a good place again. Business at the salons is strong and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It'S almost Halloween, which is Peter's favorite holiday.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Betty's son, 18 year old Richard comes.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Home on leave from the Navy, which makes the house feel full again. They're one big happy family, but they won't be for long.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

On October 31st, Betty comes home from work early to make sure she's ready.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

For trick or treaters.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Peter is going to be working late.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Tonight, but always likes to make sure.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

There'S someone around to give out candy. So Betty and Richard spend the early.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Evening handing out treats to the neighborhood kids.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

15 year old Judy's at a park.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Nearby for a party and Peter picks her up after he's finally done at work.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

When everyone's home, the four of them.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Have dinner together, making the most of.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Their time with Richard. He's got to catch a bus back to his base in San Diego tonight. By the time he finally sets off for the bus station downtown, it's getting late. The rest of them, Judy, Betty and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Peter get ready for bed.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It's just after 11 when they finally turn out the lights. Peter's exhausted when he climbs into bed beside Betty. It's been a long day, so when he hears the doorbell chime A minute.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Later he thinks he must be imagining it. He better be imagining it. But then it rings again.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

With a sigh, Peter pushes back the covers and stands up. He fumbles around for his robe and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Slippers, grumbling to Betty about how late it is.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

What could someone possibly want with them now? He shuffles down the hall to the front entrance and turns on the porch light. When he opens the door, there's a person there wearing a mask and heavy makeup, so he guesses she must be a teenager. She's got a paper bag clutched in her hand too.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Okay, one last trick or treater.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Peter rolls his eyes and turns to grab the candy bowl that's still sitting on the table by the door.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A bit late for this, isn't it?

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He asks, holding out the dish so she can grab a handful and be on her way. That's when the masked figure pulls out a revolver. Peter has just enough to time to.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Notice that her hands are shaking.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Then she squeezes the trigger and Peter Fabiano falls to the ground. It's about 11:15 on Halloween night, 1957. 36 year old Betty Fabiano lies in bed listening to her husband Peter answering the front door. From what she can hear, it sounds like some trick or treaters are out late. She's just closed her eyes when she hears the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. Betty screams Peter's name as she jolts upright and yanks the covers away. She stumbles into the hallway and towards.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The living room where she can see.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The front door wide open, the porch.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Lights on, which makes the night beyond.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Look that much darker. But Betty's eyes are only on Peter, who's lying on his back, a dark red stain rapidly spreading across his chest. Betty falls to her knees and puts both her hands over his chest to put pressure on the wound behind her. Judy runs into the room to ask what's happened. Betty doesn't have any answers, but she knows exactly what to do. Keeping her eyes on Peter's face, she tells Judy to run and get Bud. Betty hears Judy dash through the front door and across the lawn.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

After that, she's alone in the house with Peter.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He's not conscious though, and she can tell that he's already struggling to breathe. The second stretch on as Betty kneels there on the carpet.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It feels like hours.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Eventually, she hears footsteps outside and looks over her shoulder as their neighbor Bud Alper runs through the door. Bud's a member of the LAPD's Valley.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Division and he and Peter are good friends.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He's dressed in his pajamas, but he's got his firearm drawn.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Feeling utterly helpless, Betty explains that Peter's been shot.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But Bud's already got the phone in.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

One hand and is dialing with the other.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Betty listens to him request an ambulance.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And immediate backup and out of breath, Judy arrives.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

As he's hanging up, Bud tells her to lock the front door behind him.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Then goes outside to do a sweep of the yard. He wants to make sure the shooter's not lying in wait somewhere nearby.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

By the time he's back, an ambulance is pulling up outside.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A couple of paramedics load Peter onto.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

A gurney and are wheeling him out the front door when several police cars.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Speed onto the scene.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Two of the cops climb into the.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Back of the ambulance with Peter, hoping.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

They'Ll be able to ask who shot him.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

But they'll never get the chance.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Peter Fabiano will be dead before he can make it to the hospital. At the house, the rest of the.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Cops are already searching for clues that.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Might tell them what happened. But they're getting nothing. As far as anyone can tell, the shooter didn't steal anything from the house.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And they didn't help the dropped the.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Murder weapon as they made their escape either. One quick thinking officer tapes a small cardboard box over the doorbell, hoping they'll.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Be able to pull fingerprints from it later.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Besides that, the cops are left scratching their heads. Betty tells them that it sounded like whoever shot Peter was dressed in some kind of Halloween costume, but that she.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Didn'T hear anything else.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

As the investigation spreads out through the.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Neighborhood, it seems like no one saw or heard anything.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

A 15 year old kid reports that he noticed a car speeding away from Community street just after 11pm but he.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Didn'T get a good look at it.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

A couple of the cops go downtown to find Betty's son Richard before he gets on the bus to head back.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

To his naval base. Once the family are reunited and have.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Had a couple of hours to deal with their shock, a detective sits them down to ask about Peter.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A murder like this smacks of mob hits.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But as far as any of his.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Relatives know, Peter was squeaky clean. He'd never crossed anyone.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But then Betty remembers Joan, her former friend who always had it out for Peter.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

If he had any enemies, Joan Robble would have been on the list.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The next morning, detectives find Joan at her West Hollywood apartment. She seems shocked when she hears that.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Peter's been murdered and is happy to answer questions. She freely admits that there was no love lost between her and Peter, but that it wasn't anything Worth killing over.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She says that she hasn't seen either of the Fabianos in months, which is exactly what Peter wanted.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And she was all alone at home on Halloween.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Joan might seem like a completely trustworthy person to the cops questioning her, except for the fact that she's got three prior arrests for charges of burglary and alcohol related incidents. That record certainly makes her seem like.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She'S someone to keep in mind. Still, there's no evidence that she's lying to the cops now.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

So they carry on with their investigation for a couple more days, Chasing down.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The few other leads they have.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Angelenos are terrified by the thought of a trick or treater turned killer. One theory investigators float to the press is that some kids were unhappy with whatever candy they got at the Fabianos earlier in the evening and came back for vengeance.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That really ratchets up the stakes.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

If the police can't find the mask wearing killer, Will someone else become a victim next Halloween? Will it be safer to just not.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Be home on October 31st?

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Avoid answering the door until the holiday is over? When all the other leads turn out to be dead ends, the investigators come back to Joan. They need to clear a few things.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Up, they tell her and hook her up to a polygraph. Whatever her answers are, they don't make Joan look good. And the police arrest her on November 12th.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

The detectives are clearly excited to have made progress on the case, and they make sure to summon plenty of press photographers to be waiting at the station when Jones brought in. The next day, all the local papers run stories about Joan Robble, the mysterious divorcee and suspected killer. The cops aren't ready to say what.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

What exactly makes them suspect Joan, but they kind of hint that jealousy was at play.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And when word gets out that Peter and Betty were briefly separated earlier this year, People's imaginations run wild.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Were Joan and Betty fighting over Peter?

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Or much more scandalous for 1957, were.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The two women having an affair.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Just over a week later? Later, investigators lay out their case. At Joan's initial hearing. Betty explains that she and Joan were very close during her separation and about.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Peter's demand that they not see each other anymore.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

One of their chief witnesses is Joan's friend, Margaret Barrett. She testifies that Joan asked to borrow.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Her car on Halloween night.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It was an unusual request since Joan has her own car car.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

But Margaret gave her the keys and told her to drive safe.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

When Joan brought the car back the next day, she apparently asked Margaret not to tell anyone she'd borrowed it. She even mentioned the News of Peter's.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Murder as the reason for the secrecy.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She didn't want anyone to think it was her. Margaret's story directly contradicts what Joan told.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The cops about being home alone all night on Halloween.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And although she told Margaret she only drove about 4 miles, Joan actually put.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

37 miles on the car.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

And that just so happens to be how far it would be to drive from Joan's place in West Hollywood to the Fabiano's address in Sun Valley and then back again.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Things don't look good for Joan. Still, she's freed on $8,000 bail, which is a pretty low amount for a suspected murderer.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

People who understand how the criminal justice system works start to whisper that the state must not have a lot of.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Confidence in their case. Without any physical evidence to go on.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

There'S only the borrowed car and Jones dislike of Peter. Convincing a jury to convict on just those circumstantial pieces doesn't seem likely. But then, in early December, investigators get an anonymous tip. This man says he's a private investigator and he knows the location of the gun used to kill Peter Fabiano. It's in a storage locker inside a department store in downtown Los Angeles.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

But that's not all.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He says that he knows exactly who.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The killer is and why they did it.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

He's even got this person confessing on tape.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

But it's not Joan Robble.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It's a woman in her early 40s named Goldeen Pizer. And until about three seconds before she.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Shot him, she'd never even met Peter Fabiano.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

While detectives go to the department store to pick up the gun, Joan appears in court once more. It's a straightforward hearing, Just long enough for Joan to play plead not guilty.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And for the murder trial to be.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Set for February of next year.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

No one in the courtroom has any.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Idea that things are about to get.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A lot more complicated.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Later that night, police knock on Goldeen Pizer's door in West Hollywood. Slight, mousy, and kind of timid looking, Goldeen doesn't waste investigators time. She confesses to being the one to pull the trigger, but she says she didn't act alone. After hearing what Goldeen has to say, detectives head a mile south to Joan's place.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And they're not there to let her.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Know she's off the hook. When she comes to the door, they tell her that a judge has just revoked her bail. She's placed in handcuffs once again and brought to the station. The next morning is decided.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

December 6th.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

In a building downtown, Reporters and photographers file into the office of Joan Robble's attorney. They've been told that they won't want to miss what's about to go down.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

A few minutes after the journalists arrive.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Joan is led in by a couple of cops, followed by Goldeen Pizer. It's a staged confrontation between the two accused murderers who were in on the scheme together.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The police. Police explain. Joan refuses to comment, but Goldeen's eager to talk.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

She has to get the story off her chest.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She says. People need to know the truth about.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

That night and about Joan. Rebel.

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[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It's December 6, 1957, in a lawyer's office in downtown Los Angeles. Goldeen Pizer is surrounded by a gaggle of reporters.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The people in the room are hanging.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Off her every word as she explains what drove her to kill Peter Fabiano 5 weeks ago.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Or more accurately, who drove her to do it.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Pointing directly at Joan, Goldeen explains that they've been friends for about four years, that they met at a party and became coffee klatch friends, meaning they got.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Together to catch up over coffee. They'd swap stories and gossip and everyday complaints. Nothing out of the ordinary.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

But starting earlier this year, Joan only wanted to talk about the husband of.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Another one of her friends.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Goldeen would sit there quietly while Joan.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Told her how this man, Peter Fabiano, mistreated his wife. He was a drug dealer and had even threatened Joan.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Naturally, she was terrified of him, not just for herself, but but for her dear friend Betty. Joan had gotten Betty away from Peter for a while, but she went back to him.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

And now Joan didn't know what was going to happen.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Goldeen, faithful, trusting Goldeen took Joan at her word. This guy Peter sounded like a terrible.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Husband who was a danger to everyone around him.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

So in July, when Joan told her.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That Peter needed to die, Goldeen believed her and they started plotting his murder.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Goldeen stops her story for a minute to explain. She needs people to understand she's not a violent person.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She hates the thought of hurting others.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

So much that she quit her job as a lab technician because she couldn't stand having to prick people with needles. I'd never hurt anyone, she says, but I'd do anything for a friend. That's why all. All through the summer, she and Joan discussed their options, narrowing things down until they arrived at what they thought was the best plan.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

It would have to be a gun.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Given how easy and quick it would be. And they settled on Halloween as the perfect time. That way, they'd be able to show up at someone's door in disguise without anyone looking at them.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Strangely, they'd just be another pair of trick or treaters.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

With that settled, Joan convinced Goldeen that.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

She should buy the gun.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

So in September, Joan drove her to a gun store in Pasadena, 10 miles northwest of downtown LA. Joan handed Goldeen money, then sent her into the store to make the purchase. She didn't want anything that could connect.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Her to this later on.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

As the day got closer, Joan started suggesting that Goldeen had better be the one to actually pull the trigger. Even in a costume, someone might recognize Joan if they saw her at the front door.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

As always, Goldeen believed her friend.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

That argument just made sense to her. So one evening about a week before Halloween, Joan drove Goldeen out to Sun Valley. They cruised up and down Community Street a couple of times so Joan could point out the Fabiano's house on the.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Corner and see Peter through the window.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

In the lawyer's office, the journalists are all scribbling notes as fast as they can, trying to get down every detail of the story. As they get closer to the night of the murder, the photographers even put down their cameras.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

No one wants any distractions. Goldeen leans against a desk, her hands.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Trembling as she starts speaking about Halloween. Joan picked her up about 8:30 that.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Night, and they arrived on Community street right around 9.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

They'd already decided that they'd wait to ring the bell until the house was completely dark. It was going to be much more likely that Peter would be the one to answer the door once the family.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Were all in bed.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It took a couple of hours, but.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Eventually all the lights went out at the Fabianos. That's when Joan told Goldine to do it.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Now Goldeen put on her mask, walked.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Up to the front door and rang the bell. When Peter opened the door, her hands were shaking, but she held steady enough.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

To shoot him in the chest. She tells the reporters that her first thought had been to help her victim.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

This man had fallen down, and she.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Instinctively jolted forward to see if he was okay. But a split second later, she remembered what she was doing and ran back to the car. Less than a minute after Goldeen put on the mask, she and Joan were speeding away from Community street and back towards West Hollywood. Once they arrived, Joan thanked Goldeen and kissed her on the cheek. Then she ordered her to forget they.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Ever knew each other.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

They can never meet again, she said. That was the the last time Goldeen.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Saw her friend, she says, until today. In the days following the murder, Goldeen.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Had hidden the revolver in the department store locker. Then when the guilt began gnawing at her and she started to fear she'd be found out, she went to see a private investigator. She told him exactly where the gun was, asked him to retrieve it, then.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Throw it in the ocean for her. She didn't realize that he'd recorded their.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Whole conversation, including when she told him exactly what she'd done. But she's relieved. She tells the room at large, it feels good to finally have it off her chest. Goldeen's story is printed in all the papers the next morning. Everyone fixates on Joan, calling her a Svengali figure who cast some kind of.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Spell of control on Goldeen.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

No one knows exactly why Joan wanted.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Peter dead, but motive doesn't matter to the authorities.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Now that they have a confession and the people of Los Angeles are happy, they don't need to fear trick or treaters come next Halloween. A week after Goldeen confesses, a grand jury indicts both women on first degree murder charges and their trial is set to for the following year.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

The case never makes it to the courtroom, though.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

In March 1958, prosecutors cut a deal with Joan and Goldeen to reduce the charges to second degree murder. The D A tells the judge that he just doesn't think he'll be able to get a conviction on first degree, even with Goldeen's detailed confession and the murder weapon as evidence. So with both Joan and Goldeen now pleading guilty, they're handed sentences of five years to life and are sent to Corona Women's Prison east of la. And it's there that the trail of the trick or treat killers goes cold. I really wish I could tell you about how much time Joan and Goldeen.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Spent locked up, but that's a mystery.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Thanks to their plea deal with the DA's office, there was no trial to drum up more interest in the case. Once the killers were arrested, people just stopped paying attention, stopped talking about the night that murder came to a quiet.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Street in Sun Valley.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Today, there are unverified reports floating around that Goldeen was released in 1971 and.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

That she died in 1998, but that's about it. As for the mastermind of the whole.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Thing, well, Joan basically vanished off the face of the earth. Maybe she spent the rest of her days behind bars. Maybe she was released after a decade or two.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

No one knows.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It's not difficult to believe that either.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Of those things happened.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

It seems that Joan was a woman.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Who could easily manipulate the people in her life.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

First Betty, then Goldeen. Perhaps she used that talent to work on the parole board. Or maybe they saw right through her disguise and knew that no matter what she said, it was all a trick. From Airship this is our first episode in our special Halloween anthology.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

On the next episode, the shocking story.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

Of the real life Candyman killer who turned Halloween from a night of fun.

[Jeremy Schwartz (Host of American Criminal)]

Into one of terror.

[Narrator (American Criminal Podcast)]

This episode may contain reenactments or dramatized details, and while in some cases we can't know exactly what happened, all our dramatizations are based on historical research. American Criminal is hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Jeremy Schwartz Audio editing by Muhammad Shazi Sound designed by Matthew Filler Music by Throne this episode is written and researched by Joel Callan Managing Producer Emily Burke. Executive producers are Joel Callan, William Simpson and Lindsey Graham.

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[Podcast Host Closing Remarks]

If you like the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help the show to grow. Thank you for listening. Happy Holidays. Want to give your host a gift? Consider subscribing, rating and reviewing the show this holiday season. It really helps the show grow. From all of us at Believe, have a Merry Christmas everyone and a happy holiday.