Crime House True Crime Stories
Episode: True Crime This Week: Crimes of Passion
Release Date: August 4, 2025

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Crime House True Crime Stories, host Vanessa Richardson delves into the unsettling theme of Crimes of Passion, exploring two infamous cases separated by more than a century but united by the intense emotions that led to brutal acts of violence. The episode juxtaposes the haunting early case of Lizzie Borden in 1892 with the modern tragedy of Derek Medina in 2013, highlighting how passion and power dynamics within intimate relationships can culminate in shocking crimes.

Case 1: The Lizzie Borden Murders (1892)

The Crime Scene

On August 4, 1892, the tranquil Borden family home in Fall River, Massachusetts, became the epicenter of a nationally sensational murder case. 69-year-old Andrew Borden and 64-year-old Abby Borden, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother respectively, were found brutally slain in their residence.

Vanessa Richardson sets the scene:

"August 4, 1892 was a warm Thursday morning in Fall River, Massachusetts... But what she was doing or what she was planning was about to become the question of the century."
(00:00)

Investigation and Prime Suspect

The immediate suspect was Lizzie Borden, Andrew and Abby’s 32-year-old daughter. The investigation revealed the gruesome nature of the murders—both victims struck with a hatchet-like weapon multiple times. Despite the brutality, the crime scene lacked apparent signs of forced entry or theft, making the motive elusive.

Vanessa narrates the initial investigation:

"But then Lizzy's demeanor. It was unnerving. She was too calm and cold. She hadn't cried at all, not a single tear for her dead Parents."
(06:30)

The Inquest and Trial

Lizzie's inquest testimony was fraught with inconsistencies, raising suspicion. For instance, she was seen destroying a dress resembling what she wore on the morning of the murders, which Vanessa highlights:

"When Lizzie noticed Alice, she explained that the dress had paint on it and was ruined... the timing was impossible to ignore."
(12:09)

The trial, beginning in June 1893, was a media spectacle. The prosecution presented a case built on motive—inheritance and resentment towards her father's frugality and control. However, the defense portrayed Lizzie as a refined Victorian woman incapable of such violence. The pivotal moment came when Lizzie fainted upon viewing her father’s skull, casting doubt on her emotional capacity to commit the act.

"The prosecution's case took another blow when the justices excluded any testimony from the local pharmacist... because the poison had legitimate uses that were completely innocent."
(10:45)

After a week-long trial, the jury acquitted Lizzie Borden, a verdict that left the public and historians debating her guilt for over a century. Vanessa concludes the section with the enduring mystery:

"More than 130 years later, no one has been able to prove exactly what happened inside the Borden house that morning."
(25:50)

Case 2: The Derek Medina Facebook Killer (2013)

The Murder

Fast forward to August 8, 2013, in South Miami, Florida, where 31-year-old Derek Medina fatally shot his wife, 26-year-old Jennifer Alfonso, in their home. Unlike the Borden case, Medina's crime was swiftly amplified by digital media.

Vanessa introduces the case:

"Then we'll skip forward to 2014, when Derek Medina shot his wife Jennifer Alfonso in their Miami home and shared a photo of her lifeless body online."
(02:00)

The Crime and Social Media Confession

The murder footage captured a heated argument escalating to Medina pulling out a gun and shooting Jennifer eight times. Shockingly, he photographed her dead body and posted it on Facebook with a cryptic and chilling caption.

Medina's own words:

"I'm not the Facebook killer. I'm Derek Medina. The media has created a monster, and I'm not a monster."
(39:30)

This act of posting the photo turned the murder into a global spectacle, earning Medina the moniker "Facebook Killer." The swift dissemination of his actions on social media underscored the modern intersection of technology and crime.

Investigation and Trial

Medina promptly confessed to the police, but his narrative of self-defense contradicted evidence and testimonies from Jennifer’s friends and coworkers, who described her as trying to escape an abusive relationship.

Vanessa details the investigation:

"Detectives obtained a search warrant for the townhouse. They collected two cell phones, three computers and an iPad."
(20:00)

At trial, the prosecution presented a compelling case of premeditation and control, while the defense attempted to portray Medina as a victim of his volatile relationship. Despite a robust defense, Medina was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

"Prosecutor Leah Klein made her argument clear from the start. This was a premeditated killing, a calculated act by a man who'd spent years controlling, gaslighting and isolating his wife."
(30:10)

Aftermath and Legacy

Even a decade after his conviction, Medina maintains his innocence, asserting that his actions were in self-defense. However, the general consensus remains that his need for control and the public's voracious appetite for sensational stories sealed his fate.

Vanessa reflects on the impact:

"But for Jennifer's family, and for advocates working to end domestic violence, the focus remains on her. On a young mother who tried to leave, who tried to live, and whose life was stolen by a man who couldn't let go."
(35:00)

Connecting the Cases: Crimes of Passion

Both Lizzie Borden and Derek Medina committed heinous acts within the confines of their homes, directed at individuals they knew intimately. These cases exemplify how underlying tensions, control issues, and intense emotions can lead to catastrophic violence.

Vanessa summarizes the connection:

"Lizzie Borden and Derek Medina lived more than a century apart, but both became infamous for the same reason, a brutal, intimate act of violence that shocked the people closest to them, then captivated the public."
(38:00)

Conclusion

This episode of True Crime This Week: Crimes of Passion masterfully intertwines historical and contemporary narratives to explore the depths of human emotions and their potential to unleash violence. Through meticulous storytelling and insightful analysis, Vanessa Richardson not only recounts these chilling tales but also invites listeners to ponder the complex motivations behind such crimes.

"Crimes not just of passion, but of power in families where tension simmered just beneath the surface until it finally boiled over."
(38:30)

For those seeking to understand the dark intersections of love, rage, and control, this episode offers a profound and unsettling exploration of what drives individuals to commit unimaginable acts.

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