Going West: True Crime
Episode 548 — Holly Maddux
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Episode Theme & Purpose
This episode of Going West dives into the haunting and twisted case of Holly Maddux, a compassionate and bright young woman whose 1977 murder exposed shocking cruelty, narcissism, and decades-long injustice. Through detailed storytelling, Daphne and Heath unravel not just Holly’s tragic end, but also the manipulations and sociopathic patterns of her killer, the notorious Ira Einhorn—"The Unicorn Killer." The hosts highlight the failings of the justice system, the devastation wrought on Holly’s family, and the disturbing contradictions behind Einhorn’s "progressive" public persona.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Who Was Holly Maddux? (03:06)
- Background: Born Helen "Holly" Maddux in Tyler, Texas, 1947; raised in a strict, religious home, second in her class, cheerleader, and a notably kind, intelligent spirit.
- Quote, John (brother): "Holly was a brilliant, elegant, gracious, graceful lady." (06:17)
- Quote, Buffy (sister): “…never one to make anybody feel uncomfortable or beneath her." (06:37)
- Education: Attended Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania—embraced 1970s counterculture, became involved in activism, and spoke passionately against the Vietnam War.
2. Meeting & Relationship with Ira Einhorn (07:14)
- Met at a campus café in 1972—Ira was charming but smug, claiming attraction to Holly’s “beautiful mind.”
- Heath: “Aww, it's already. Ugh, I'm already getting creeper vibes now.” (07:25)
- Ira: Seven years older, entrenched in Philadelphia’s activist scene; self-styled intellectual, known for charisma, yet had a reputation for manipulation.
- Lifestyle contrast: Holly’s family disapproved—described Ira as rude, abusive ("Neanderthal"), unkempt, and foul-smelling.
- Warning signs: Ira’s history of violence towards past partners—strangling, glass bottle assault.
- Daphne: “Holly also discovered that Ira had strangled one of his former lovers and hit another over the head with a Coke bottle…” (10:49)
3. Breakup and Disappearance (11:06–14:18)
- Holly ended their five-year tumultuous relationship in August 1977, moving to a friend’s place on Fire Island, NY; soon started dating Saul Lapidus.
- Ira’s Jealousy: When Holly planned to retrieve belongings from Ira, he threatened to throw out all her things if she didn’t comply.
- Saul (recounting Holly): "I just have to go back to get him off the wall, he's in one of his moods." (12:40)
4. The Investigation & Discovery of the Crime (14:18–23:47)
- Holly vanished on September 9, 1977, en route to Philadelphia. Not immediately reported missing.
- Ira provided contradictory information to family and police about Holly’s whereabouts.
- Heath: "So his story's not really lining up." (15:07)
- Private investigators uncovered neighbor complaints of foul odor and strange brown ooze in Ira’s building (18:20), which Ira deflected or denied ('lost key' to suspiciously padlocked closet).
- Search Warrant: March 28, 1979—police find Holly's vital documents and clothes in the closet. Beneath boxes, a trunk contained her mummified remains, air fresheners, and newspapers from her disappearance month.
- Heath: "But the scariest part here was that below these cardboard boxes was a steamer trunk...wrapped in plastic and surrounded by styrofoam plastic bags and air fresheners were Holly's mummified remains." (22:57–23:47)
5. Aftermath, Autopsy, and Criminal Proceedings (28:36–33:19)
- Autopsy: Holly’s skull crushed; evidence pointed to her alive when locked in the trunk.
- Ira had asked women for help disposing of a "trunk with sensitive documents"—they declined.
- During police discovery, Ira was cold and unemotional:
- Ira (to police): "You found what you found." (31:49)
- Claimed he was being framed by the government for his activism—typifying performative martyrdom.
- Police discovered chilling excerpts from his diary:
- Ira (diary): "Sadism. Sounds nice. Run it over your tongue. Contemplate with joy the pain of others, to beat a woman, what joy?" (34:39)
- "To kill what you love when you can’t have it seems so natural." (35:07)
- Holly’s journals corroborated sustained abuse and violence by Ira.
6. Shocking Bail, Flight, and Time as a Fugitive (36:10–41:27)
- Judge unusually granted Ira bail; $4,000 paid by Barbara Bronfman, Seagram’s heiress (annually later implicated in the Nexium scandal).
- Media began referring to him as "The Unicorn Killer."
- Ira absconded ahead of his 1981 trial, using fake names and the support of wealthy friends, disappearing across Europe (Ireland, Sweden, France).
7. Global Manhunt & Decades of Frustration (41:27–51:53)
- Tips led to fleeting sightings (goes by "Ben Moore")—eluded capture due to international red tape and lack of extradition treaties.
- Convicted in absentia in 1993 in the US; extradition battle with France, which was reluctant since his conviction occurred while he was not present.
8. French Years, Annika Floden, and Final Arrest (44:07–51:53)
- Settled in French countryside with Annika Floden—supported entirely by her wealth.
- Annika (to Esquire): "I am the wallet." (47:24)
- Ira boasted about providing "brain food" to the relationship.
- Eventually exposed through Annika’s paperwork mistake; arrested in 1997 but kept under house arrest due to French legal objections.
9. Extradition, Trial, and Justice—Finally (51:53–55:35)
- Extradition succeeded only after Pennsylvania agreed not to seek death penalty and to retry Ira.
- Ira slit his throat upon final arrest attempt, survived, and was returned to the US.
- At trial, Ira denied murder but evidence revealed premeditation—even buying books about mummification.
- Prosecutors & Jurors: Described him as having a "God complex."
- Found guilty of first-degree murder (October 2002), sentenced to life without parole.
- Holly’s sister Meg: "He's really convinced everything that's gone against him is so highly unethical. There is no room in his mind for the victim because he's made himself the victim." (58:43)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Ira’s Persona and Manipulation
- Heath (re: activism): "He's just one of those very performative guys…they act like they're for peace…but…this is the complete opposite of who Ira was." (33:05)
- Daphne: "He put on this mask that he was a good man…but he abused women." (34:11)
On Justice Delayed
- Heath: “I just can't believe all the chances that Ira was given over the years. I mean, it took decades, and it's only because he continued to stay on the run with the help of people.” (59:26)
- Daphne: "What a phony of a man…He is hiding behind good messages with horrible, horrible actions." (59:42/60:43)
On Hippie Culture Irony
- Heath: “Punk rock people are good people who act mean, and hippies are mean people who act nice. And that's always kind of rang true…sometimes these performative activists can be some of the worst people on the planet.” (59:51)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|----------------| | Introductions, overview | 01:30–03:06 | | Who was Holly Maddux? | 03:06–07:14 | | Relationship with Ira, warning signs | 07:14–11:06 | | Holly's breakup, new romance, disappearance | 11:06–14:18 | | The investigation, PI discoveries | 14:18–21:09 | | Search warrant, finding Holly's remains | 21:09–23:47 | | Crime details, Ira’s cold reaction | 28:36–35:23 | | Investigation into Ira’s reputation/diaries | 34:11–36:10 | | Ira’s bail and escape | 36:10–41:27 | | Global manhunt, Annika Floden | 41:27–44:07 | | Living in France, capture, extradition battle | 44:07–51:53 | | Extradition, final trial, conviction | 51:53–58:43 | | Reflections, family impact, final thoughts | 58:43–61:25 |
Tone and Style
Daphne and Heath maintain their hallmark conversational—sometimes irreverent—tone throughout, balancing factual reporting with personal reactions, disbelief, and empathy for Holly and her family. They use humor to underscore the grotesque absurdity of Ira’s narcissism, yet show clear, genuine sorrow for the loss and inordinate suffering endured by Holly’s loved ones.
Conclusion
This episode is a comprehensive, emotionally resonant look at a case fraught with red flags, institutional failures, and almost surreal levels of narcissistic manipulation. Holly Maddux’s memory is honored by tracing the long path to justice—and listeners are left reflecting on the lessons about trust, performative activism, and the need for vigilance, especially when justice is long delayed.
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Notable:
- For those interested in related cases, the hosts briefly mention their recent episode on the “Teen Vampire Murders.” (02:16)
- Curious listeners can also look up the book Unicorn Murder in the Age of Aquarius by Stephen Levy, discussed as pivotal in changing the mind of one key Ira supporter. (40:30)
Justice for Holly—after decades, but never enough for lost time.