Episode 624: The Murder of Cheryl Perveler

Summary

Episode 624: The Murder of Cheryl Preveller
Morbid Network | Wondery
Release Date: December 5, 2024

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Introduction

In Episode 624 of Morbid, hosts Ash and Elena delve into the chilling true crime case of Cheryl Preveller, exploring the intricate web of relationships, motives, and evidence that culminated in her tragic murder. This episode meticulously unpacks the events leading up to Cheryl's death, the ensuing investigation, the high-profile trial, and the lasting impact of the case.

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Background of Cheryl and Paul Preveller

Cheryl Preveller, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945, was a vibrant and well-liked individual with a strong passion for sports and fitness. After graduating high school, Cheryl moved to Los Angeles with aspirations to break into the film industry. Initially working an unfulfilling office job, she found her calling as an aerobics instructor at the Aristocratic Spa, where she quickly rose to managerial positions due to her dedication and skill.

In Los Angeles, Cheryl met Paul Preveller, who owned two bars in the city. Their relationship blossomed rapidly, leading to a swift marriage just seven months before Cheryl's untimely death. Paul, formerly an LAPD officer, had a tumultuous past, including a controversial discharge from the police force related to an illegal abortion case.

Ash [10:46]: "Cheryl was always a physically active child. She had a really strong interest in sports from an early age, and she carried that into adulthood."

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The Murder of Cheryl Preveller

On the night of April 20, 1968, Cheryl was brutally murdered in her car outside the Castilian Apartments in Burbank, California. John Miller and his wife, Cheryl's neighbors, discovered Cheryl severely injured in her vehicle at approximately 11:30 PM. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots shortly after Cheryl was found, but shockingly, none of the neighbors called the police immediately.

Cheryl had been shot twice in the head and suffered a significant chest wound, likely from attempting to defend herself against her assailant. Additionally, she had multiple head injuries from a blunt object, suggesting a violent and personal attack.

Elena [10:32]: "Oh, geez."

Ash [11:37]: "She almost lived, which I so wish she had because there are some unanswered questions in this case."

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Investigation and Evidence

Detective Lieutenant Dave McIntyre led the investigation, uncovering several perplexing pieces of evidence:

1. The Gun: A .32 caliber automatic pistol was found on the passenger seat, inscribed with "Love, Paul," referencing Cheryl's husband. The gun was loaded with five rounds, two of which were stray .25 caliber shells found both inside and outside the car. The presence of unfired rounds suggested the shooter had reloaded, yet Cheryl was shot from the passenger side, indicating the assailant moved sides during the attack.

2. Financial Discrepancies: Cheryl's purse contained $35, a significant amount at the time, indicating that robbery was unlikely. The absence of stolen items and the residual money hinted that the motive might have been personal rather than financial.

3. Paul's Background: Paul's prior employment with the LAPD and his subsequent involvement in other crimes, including the murder of Marlon Cromwell in 1966, raised suspicions. Cromwell's death, initially believed to be from a house fire, was later identified as a homicide with five gunshot wounds, pointing toward a possible pattern of violent behavior.

4. Relationship Dynamics: Investigators discovered Paul's affair with Christina Cromwell, Marlon Cromwell's wife, adding another layer of complexity. Christina's life insurance policy on her husband and subsequent financial transactions further implicated the couple in a potential conspiracy.

Ash [12:27]: "To think that $35 back then is worth $300 today. But the absence of robbery clues pointed towards a personal motive."

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The Trial

The trial commenced on November 18, 1968, with prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi at the helm—a case that would later contribute to Bugliosi's reputation as a formidable prosecutor, notably in the Manson Family case.

Prosecution's Case:

• Circumstantial Evidence: Bugliosi presented over 30 witness statements and detailed financial records showing suspicious bank transfers following the murders.
• Pattern of Behavior: Evidence of Paul's violent past, including the attack on his ex-wife Leila and the prior murder of Marlon Cromwell, established a pattern of brutality and potential motive.
• Affair and Financial Gain: The connection between Paul and Christina Cromwell, along with their joint financial activities, painted a picture of collusion aimed at eliminating spouses for financial benefit.

Ash [49:34]: "But regardless of who actually committed the murders, the quick transfer of funds was, according to Bugliosi, evidence that neither murder would have occurred without Paul's orchestration."

Defense's Strategy:

• Blame Shifting: Defense attorneys for Paul and Christina attempted to cast doubt by suggesting each was responsible for the other's involvement. Paul's lawyer, Mel Albom, accused Christina of orchestrating the murders to be with Paul, while Christina's lawyer depicted her as a manipulated victim.
• Lack of Direct Evidence: The defense emphasized the absence of direct evidence linking Paul or Christina to the act of murder, focusing on the complexities and uncertainties of the case.

Elena [50:18]: "But the defense chose to place blame on each other, making it even more convoluted."

---

Verdict and Sentencing

After nearly three months, the grand jury indicted both Paul Preveller and Christina Cromwell on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Trial Outcome:

• Paul Preveller: Found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He was sentenced to death in the gas chamber, a sentence later commuted to life imprisonment following California's repeal of the death penalty in 1972.
• Christina Cromwell: Convicted of one count of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after seven years.

Ash [51:28]: "They found Christina Cromwell guilty of one count of first-degree murder as well."

Despite the lack of direct evidence, the jury was persuaded by the circumstantial evidence and the pattern of Paul's violent behavior. Prosecutor Bugliosi effectively argued that the financial motives intertwined with their extremist actions made Paul and Christina equally responsible for the murders.

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Aftermath and Legacy

Post-Trial Developments:

• Parole and Public Opinion: Paul attempted to secure parole multiple times, but public outcry and ongoing advocacy by victims' families kept him incarcerated. Christina was paroled in 1976 but later became a key witness in efforts to prevent Paul's release.
• Impact on Legal Proceedings: The case underscored the complexities of prosecuting crimes based primarily on circumstantial evidence and influenced future legal strategies in similar cases.

Personal Ties:

• Allen Halverson and Leila Preveller: The state's key witnesses formed a bond during the trial, eventually marrying and finding solace in their shared ordeal.

Ash [54:50]: "And they eventually got married because they had the bond over this very unusual shared experience."

Historical Significance: The case remains a study in the intersection of personal vendettas, financial motives, and the legal system's challenge in addressing crimes without direct evidence. It also highlights the role of effective prosecution in securing convictions based on circumstantial factors.

Ash [58:32]: "As these attacks went on, each got more and more violent. I don't think he was killing for insurance. I think Preveller was a stone cold killer."

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Conclusion

The murder of Cheryl Preveller serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human violence and the intricate paths that lead to justice in the absence of direct evidence. Through meticulous investigation and compelling prosecution, Paul and Christina Preveller were held accountable for their heinous actions, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of true crime history.

Elena [59:48]: "But who killed Cheryl? We don't know. They escaped into the darkness, literally. Which is honestly, the scariest shit I've ever heard."

For more detailed accounts and ongoing discussions on this case and others, continue listening to Morbid on the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

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Notable Quotes:

• Ash [10:46]: "Cheryl was always a physically active child. She had a really strong interest in sports from an early age, and she carried that into adulthood."
• Elena [10:32]: "Oh, geez."
• Ash [11:37]: "She almost lived, which I so wish she had because there are some unanswered questions in this case."
• Ash [12:27]: "To think that $35 back then is worth $300 today. But the absence of robbery clues pointed towards a personal motive."
• Ash [49:34]: "But regardless of who actually committed the murders, the quick transfer of funds was, according to Bugliosi, evidence that neither murder would have occurred without Paul's orchestration."
• Elena [50:18]: "But the defense chose to place blame on each other, making it even more convoluted."
• Ash [51:28]: "They found Christina Cromwell guilty of one count of first-degree murder as well."
• Ash [58:32]: "As these attacks went on, each got more and more violent. I don't think he was killing for insurance. I think Preveller was a stone cold killer."
• Elena [59:48]: "But who killed Cheryl? We don't know. They escaped into the darkness, literally. Which is honestly, the scariest shit I've ever heard."

---

This summary captures the essence of Episode 624, providing a comprehensive overview for both returning listeners and newcomers interested in the complex case of Cheryl Preveller's murder.

Transcript

[Ash]

Hey weirdos, it's Ash. Before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about the spooky perks of Wonderyplus. It's like having a skeleton key that unlocks ad free listening and early access to new episodes. So don't wait. Try Wondery Today. You can join Wondery in the Wondery app or in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You're listening to a Morbid network podcast hey everyone, let's talk about protein for a second. There's this rumor that getting plant based protein is tough, but. But listen, there are some amazing options out there even if you're not vegan. Adding more plant based protein to your diet is a fantastic way to nourish your body and support the planet. My go to for tasty protein and superfood packed shake is Cachava. Every serving of Cachava offers 25 grams of 100% plant based protein. But that's not all. This all in one shake has fiber, quality, fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and so much more. I love that I can tick so many boxes with just one delicious shake. If you know me, you know that vanilla and chai are my favorite flavors and I like to combine them. But they also have chocolate, they've got matcha, and they've got coconut acai. I'm a big fan of the coconut acai as well. After drinking cachava first thing in the morning, because that's when I always drink it, I feel satiated for hours. I feel focused, calm and ready to take on my day. Something that I really love to do if I even want like a little bit more protein is just add a scoop of peanut butter to the vanilla and chai concoction that I make. And that, oh, is just scrum diddly umptious honey. Kachava is offering our listeners 10% off on their subscription for a limited time. Just go to kachava.commorbid spelled k a c h a v a and get 10% off your first order. That's k a c h a v a dot commorbid what if death is only the beginning? In 1950s England, a milkman's daughter's lives are tragically cut short when his wife later becomes pregnant, he makes a claim that is, frankly, eerie. He says that his newborn twins are his dead daughters reincarnated. And he says he has proof. A true story hosted by writer, director and Emmy nominated actor Will Sharp. This is Extrasensory, an Apple Original podcast produced by Blanchard House. Apple TV subscribers get Special early access to the entire season. Follow and listen on Apple podcasts. Hey, weirdos. I'm Ash.

[Elena]

And I'm Elena.

[Ash]

And this is morbid.

[Elena]

This is morbid.

[Ash]

It's morbid in the morning. It is. How are you over there, girl?

[Elena]

I'm good.

[Ash]

You're swell.

[Elena]

I'm swell.

[Ash]

You have a nice sweater on today.

[Elena]

I do. I have a sweater on. I have plaid pants on.

[Ash]

Sweater weather.

[Elena]

Sweater weather.

[Ash]

Sweater weather.

[Elena]

It's nice sweater weather over here.

[Ash]

Nice weather, weather.

[Elena]

I know we're hitting that nice November chilly willy air.

[Ash]

Yes. It's the time of year when my uniform is leggings, high socks and a big old crew neck.

[Elena]

It's the best time of year.

[Ash]

It's the most wonderful time to be comfy.

[Elena]

Precisely. That's how the song goes. Yeah.

[Ash]

I feel moderately unhinged today.

[Elena]

I like that. Yeah, I think we all do.

[Ash]

Who doesn't amongst us, honestly, if you don't. There's the door. Shannon Bedor. Just kidding. I love Shannon Bedore. We have some exciting news to share with all of you guys. We are doing another culture fly box. If you remember, I believe it was last year that we did the last one and you guys loved those. So we said, honey, let's do another. Honey, honey, why don't we do another one of those? So this one is very cool. It's available for pre order right now on the wondery shop. There is a T shirt. There is a little pop socket. There's a little speaker.

[Elena]

Oh, and the speaker is so cute.

[Ash]

The speaker is adorable. I love it. There's like little ear pods and there's an LED candle. Yeah, that's exciting. You can change the colors of it.

[Elena]

It's a little. It's like cathedral y looking. It's very cool. The. The aesthetic.

[Ash]

Aesthetic. Yeah. Yeah. So that is available for pre order right now on the laundry shop. And I think they're starting to ship out on December 6th. So. Yeah, go watch.

[Elena]

Which is the best month because it.

[Ash]

Was born in that month. And we got Christmas on a my.

[Elena]

Birthday and Hanukkah, my birthday.

[Ash]

And your birthday, of course.

[Elena]

Number one.

[Ash]

Number one. Yay. He was number one. You won't get that because you don't watch SpongeBob. Yeah. So I think that's all the bit nasty we got. You got anything to talk about?

[Elena]

No, I. Well, this is just like a little side note. John and I watched trap the other night for fun.

[Ash]

And how was that?

[Elena]

Guys watch trap just for the fun.

[Ash]

And how was that?

[Elena]

It's I did. I wasn't thinking. Everybody was being like, totally truthful when they said that it was just a.

[Ash]

Concert, but they were.

[Elena]

It's a concert.

[Ash]

It's a concert.

[Elena]

It's a concert.

[Ash]

It's like the.

[Elena]

It's M. Night Shyamalan's daughter who is like the.

[Ash]

Oh, right.

[Elena]

Here's the thing. She's great.

[Ash]

Good voice.

[Elena]

She's beautiful. Amazing voice. She plays instruments and shit. Like, she's very talented.

[Ash]

Trifecta.

[Elena]

Didn't sign up to watch her whole concert though, so.

[Ash]

Didn't buy tickets to a concert. To your knowledge.

[Elena]

It is a Wiley movie. John and I were like, was that a fever dream?

[Ash]

I've heard some interesting reviews. It killed script. Yeah. My cousin went to see it in theaters. My cousin, your nephew. And he came back with not quite a rave review.

[Elena]

Yeah, I was shocked. It was not a good movie, but it was. But it was one of those like that you just can laugh the whole time like me.

[Ash]

What's going on? Remember the Village?

[Elena]

That's the thing. He nails it a lot. But this was not one of those times.

[Ash]

No.

[Elena]

And that's okay. We can't all, you know, bet a thousand.

[Ash]

You cannot win them all.

[Elena]

But I will say Josh Hartnett in it.

[Ash]

Oh, honey, Josh Hartnett, he is a snack.

[Elena]

Would have put. If had he been given an actual character to play, he would have played it flawlessly. Like he. I could see like when he had little moments of being able to play this like, scary serial killer.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

You were like, oh, you would have nailed that. Like, he would have eaten it up.

[Ash]

Okay.

[Elena]

But he didn't get a lot.

[Ash]

He didn't get that. I just, whatever I think of him, I think of him in 30 days of night.

[Elena]

Yeah, he's great in that. I love him in 30 days of night.

[Ash]

Oh, yeah. That movie will literally make me sob that.

[Elena]

Oh, that movie.

[Ash]

That's a great movie.

[Elena]

That movie.

[Ash]

We covered it on Scream like probably a few months ago at this point. Maybe last year. I don't really.

[Elena]

Yeah, it was my pick, right? Yeah, yeah.

[Ash]

It had to have been last year at this point because I think it was cold out when we covered it.

[Elena]

Was it really? Yeah. Whoa. But yeah, that's a great fucking movie. Josh Hartnett is great. Trap is not great, but go watch it.

[Ash]

Go watch it anyway.

[Elena]

But yeah, and we. And we just covered a good movie on screen.

[Ash]

Such a good movie.

[Elena]

If you're looking for something to listen to that's just kind of like light hearted and fun. We covered Fresh on Scream. It was Ash's pick.

[Ash]

That movie is so good. It came out in 2022. It only came out on Hulu.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

I feel like that movie should have had like a box office release.

[Elena]

I feel like it should have a re release, to be quite honest. I feel like it needs a theatrical release. That movie is fucking great.

[Ash]

Especially right now. I'm like, damn, I should release that.

[Elena]

Can we. Can we like get to. It's one of those movies. I was shocked by how much I like this movie. Yeah, I made John watch it and he loved it too.

[Ash]

I know. I was happy to hear that. He also.

[Elena]

Yeah, I had a feeling he would love it. But I'm telling you, if you guys have slept on Fresh, wake up, go watch Fresh and let's get it. I feel like it needs way more attention. Sebastian Stan in that movie. Holy shit. Daisy. Is it Edgers?

[Ash]

Edgar Jones.

[Elena]

Edgar Jones. She fucking phenomenal.

[Ash]

And I think it's Mimi Cave who directed.

[Elena]

Mimi Cave.

[Ash]

I was like, holy shit.

[Elena]

Mimi Cave.

[Ash]

It was her directorial debut. Yeah.

[Elena]

Blew my damn mind. So that's just. That's my go watch one for fun and one because it's a fucking kick ass movie.

[Ash]

Oh. And then just really quickly, I don't. I think maybe I mentioned it briefly, but go listen to or not listen to go watch Woman of the Hour. It was Anna Kendrick's directorial debut and I thought that movie was really good.

[Elena]

It's gotten great reviews.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

I haven't seen it yet.

[Ash]

People didn't quite enjoy it, but I really, really love.

[Elena]

Really. I haven't watched it yet, so I won't tell you if I like it or not.

[Ash]

But yeah, go watch it.

[Elena]

I'm interested. Tell you that much.

[Ash]

Yeah. All right.

[Elena]

Yeah, that's just a little recommendations recommendation corner. Yeah, I love that.

[Ash]

I love movies.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Even when they're not great. Oh, my God. Wait, hold on. Oh, my God. Did I finally get this? Hold up. I think. Remember this morning I walked into you and I said, do you ever get one of those tiny little eyelashes in your eye and you can't find it and it just is stabbing you? I think I might have just got it.

[Elena]

Look at you. Oh, wow.

[Ash]

That was a relief.

[Elena]

You can see clearly now. The lash is gone.

[Ash]

Is she. Hold on. What the fuck? I. Oh, it wasn't even. It's on my fingernail now. It was like a little tiny piece of hair. The tiniest little piece. Sorry, everybody. That was really bothering me. So let's get into it.

[Elena]

That was like og Like, Yeah. Just trailing Off OG trail.

[Ash]

Off.

[Elena]

It really was.

[Ash]

Leave it in. Let's get on with it though. We've got a story to talk about today. I found this case really interesting and I think you will too.

[Elena]

I'm excited.

[Ash]

Is this is unfortunately a murder. It is the murder of Cheryl Prevailer. But lots of moving pieces in this case. And it starts a little before midnight on April 20, 1968. A man named John Miller and his wife got home to the Castilian Apartments in Burbank, California. Parked their car, they were just going to walk, you know, from the car inside, finish their night. But as they were walking to their apartment, they noticed their neighbor, 22 year old Cheryl Prevailor, sitting in her car with the engine running and the headlights still on. So they were like, what's going on with her over there? So they approached the car to go check on Cheryl, who they found sitting in the front seat, barely conscious, eyes closed, gasping for air and bleeding heavily from her head and chest.

[Elena]

Oh, geez.

[Ash]

So the Millers ran inside to call the police, who arrived a short time later. Later. And as they waited for the paramedics, Mr. Miller looked at his watch. And it was exactly 11:30pm it turned out that Cheryl had been shot twice in the head just above her left ear. And she also had one large wound across her chest, which the coroner would later suspect happened when she actually tried to push the barrel of the gun away as it was fired. There were also 7/2 inch gashes on her forehead and on the top of her head that were made by, by a blunt object, possibly like the butt of a pistol. So somebody was like beating her and had shot her multiple times. Her face and her head were absolutely covered with blood, which had also pooled in the driver's seat and on the floor of the car. So paramedics arrived to the scene, they rushed Cheryl to the Burbank hospital. But the attention that she needed went way beyond the capabilities of Burbank Hospital. So they ended up having to transfer her to the Los Angeles County Hospital. But she unfortunately, unfortunately died as she was being prepped for surgery. She almost lived.

[Elena]

Holy.

[Ash]

Which I so I wish she had anyways, but I so wish that she had because there is some unanswered questions when it comes to this case.

[Elena]

Interesting.

[Ash]

But by the time Detective Lieutenant Dave McIntyre arrived to the Castilian Apartments, the other residents of the building had all assembled into the parking lot to say like, what the fuck was going on? To see what was happening. Upon his first surveying of the scene he noticed a.32 caliber automatic pistol lying on the passenger seat that didn't appear to have been fired. And inscribed on one side of the barrel was the word love, and the other Paul. So Love, Paul, which was a reference to Cheryl's husband of only seven weeks, Paul, purveyor. The gun was loaded with five rounds. Also on the front seat was Cheryl's purse, which had 35 in it, which today would be a little more than $300, which is insane.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

To think that $35 back then is worth 300 today. But on the floor of the driver's seat, Investigators also discovered two.25 caliber shells. And outside the car, toward the right, the rear right tire, they found two unfired.25 caliber rounds as well. Now, this struck them as particularly strange because Cheryl had been shot from the left side of the vehicle, meaning that at some point, her killer had stood by the other side of the car, probably reloading or loading the gun, which is just kind of strange.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

As far as McIntyre could tell, if this had been a robbery or like even an attempted carjacking, it had obviously gone terribly wrong. The shooter had not only left a ton of money in the car, but had also left the car itself, which was a really nice car. It was a 1968. So new yellow Jaguar, worth obviously a lot of money.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And the other thing was the attack would have been really violent for an attempted robbery. Like, if the killer was only trying to get away, any one of Cheryl's wounds that she sustained would have given them a sufficient opportunity to dip and, like. Yeah, run out of the scene. So McIntyre and several other investigators fanned out across the lot to interview neighbors. And they started with John Miller. And John Miller was a part of the couple who had first found her. He explained that he and his wife had just got home, you know, walking to their apartment, and they saw Cheryl's car with the engine running, the radio playing and the lights on. And actually, at first, they didn't think anybody was even in the car. I think they just heard the music and saw that the car was on. And the closer they got, he realized that Cheryl was in the front seat. And he was like. She was sitting in a really strange position. And then he said he could hear a, quote, terrible sound, a low, guttural moan.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

Because she's like. I'm pretty sure, like, choking on her own blood.

[Elena]

That's awful.

[Ash]

So after calling for help, he ran to another neighbor, Larry, I think it's Beauregard, his apartment, and said, come and Help. The girl in 17 has been beaten up real bad. And to his surprise, that neighbor responded by saying, you mean she's been shot? She's like, I'm sorry, what? What?

[Elena]

Why would you assume that?

[Ash]

Well, when they questioned the other neighbors, investigators were quite surprised to learn that multiple neighbors heard gunshots, but not one of them called the police.

[Elena]

What the fuck?

[Ash]

Not one of them. I see this so often, it's crazy. Larry Beauregard explained that he'd been in his home, in his living room, a little after 11pm when he heard what he thought was a gunshot. And then a few moments passed and he heard two more, because remember, she was shot three times. You hear three gunshots. Detectives presumed that the first shot caused the wound to Cheryl's chest, and the other two gunshots were to her head. One of the neighbors looked out his window after hearing the shots as well, and he said what he described as a man of average height and weight, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt. But he never got a look at the person's face. Otherwise, no one had seen anything. And the crime scene was not really offering much up for clues.

[Elena]

What the.

[Ash]

So they were like, what? Where do we start here?

[Elena]

What is going on?

[Ash]

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[Elena]

Yeah, all of your neighbors are just like, I guess that was gunshots. Right.

[Ash]

So while they did that, Lieutenants Ernest Vandergrift and Warren King went to the Prevailer's apartment where they found Cheryl's husband Paul, who would come home after getting a message from Mrs. Miller. The investigators found him to be in a state of shock, or at least stunned silence, as you know, you would kind of expect in that situation. Yeah, Paul said he actually gave his wife $50 that morning to go grocery shopping. And then he left for work. And he said later that night, about an hour before she was killed, Cheryl actually stopped into his bar in Sunderland where he was working, and they had a drink together. They finished their drink. He said he walked her out to the car and then he went back inside. And that was the last time he had seen her at wow. Alive. Now, these facts were confirmed with the other staff at the bar that evening. And when they asked whether there was anybody who might want his wife dead, Paul said yes, that German fellow. Referring to a man that Cheryl had dated before she and Paul got married. But he said other than that, he couldn't think of anybody else, just one ex boyfriend. So a quick background check on Cheryl revealed really nothing, indicating that her life would be cut so tragically short. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945, and she'd always been a strong willed and determined girl by all accounts. Everybody loved Cheryl. Like, not. She didn't have an enemy on this earth. She was always a physically active child. She had a really strong interest in sports from an early age, and she actually carried that into adulthood. And when she graduated from high school, she wanted to move out to Los Angeles, hoping to break into the film industry. So at first, when she moved out there, she tried her hand on an office job, but it just didn't hold her interest for long, and so she moved on. And she answered an ad for a job as an aerobics instructor at the Aristocratic Spa.

[Elena]

Damn, what a name.

[Ash]

I know.

[Elena]

I was like, the Aristocratic Spa?

[Ash]

We're all aristocratic up in here. So she loved her job at the spa. She was also really, really good at it. She quickly got promoted first to assistant manager and then manager of another location. And a short time after moving to la, she ended up meeting Paul, who, like I said, owned two bars in the city. He was charming, he was attentive, and it wasn't long before they fell in love, and they actually got married pretty quickly. And then just seven months later, Cheryl was dead.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

So, given that nothing appeared to be missing from the car and Cheryl was still wearing all her expensive jewelry, investigators ruled out robbery pretty much immediately. Yeah, but if it wasn't robbery, then that meant somebody had literally gone to the apartments that night just to kill Cheryl.

[Elena]

Yeah, and, like, she doesn't have any enemies, so what the fuck?

[Ash]

Who would that be? And by the look of things, her killer was not a professional. The brutality and the attack implied something personal. And the killer didn't stop until he was pretty certain that she wouldn't live. So, as a matter of practice, investigators also ran a simple background check on Paul. And what came back was pretty surprising. Paul had only purchased his two bars within the last two years. And before that, he had worked for a short time at an insurance industry, selling life insurance, which is interesting. And before that, he actually spent a number of years as an officer with the lapd. So he was previously one of them?

[Elena]

Oh, yeah.

[Ash]

It turned out that just a few years into his tenure with lapd, Paul was discharged from his position after he helped a friend's roommate obtain an abortion, which was illegal at the time. Wow. Yeah. So although he wasn't disciplined for the illegal activity, he was let go from the position because they didn't want any kind of scandal or bad press. So his work history was pretty surprising to detectives. But even more surprising was his involvement in other crimes. Serious crimes, including murder. Oh, yeah.

[Elena]

That's a serious crime.

[Ash]

The. One of the most serious, I would say. On December 11, 1966, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call about a house fire in the neighborhood of El Serino. And when firefighters arrived, the back of the house was completely engulfed in flames. So they immediately began searching the house for survivors and found in the front room the body of 27 year old Marlon Cromwell, the owner of the house. Now, initially, firefighters assumed that he had either passed out or died from smoke inhalation. But when they got closer to his body, they discovered that he had actually been shot three times in the head and two times in the chest.

[Elena]

Huh.

[Ash]

So shot five times and then his house was on fire beside the body.

[Elena]

Seems suspicious.

[Ash]

Seems pretty fucking suspicious. Beside the body, they also discovered a towel with a ring of blood on it, which investigators would later theorize had been used kind of as like an informal silencer.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

For the gun. Yeah.

[Elena]

Holy.

[Ash]

Now, according to fire officials, there was no reason to believe that his death was a suicide, because you're not going to shoot your own self five times.

[Elena]

No.

[Ash]

And the case was being invested as a homicide, but there was very little evidence at the scene to develop any leads from. So investigators theorized that the killer obviously set the fire to destroy any evidence of murder. But they had set the fire in the back room, which gave firefighters enough time to reach Cromwell's body before it was affected by the flames.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

An autopsy showed that he'd been shot three times in the head at close range, killing him. And then it seemed as though this, the killer must have stood several feet away and fired two more rounds into his chest to make sure he was completely expired.

[Elena]

This is so chaotic.

[Ash]

It is immediately like this.

[Elena]

I just realized how many times I've been like, damn. And I'm like, it's just like, shocking, but rightfully so.

[Ash]

The dams are.

[Elena]

The dams just keep on coming. But I'm like, wow. It's the only thing I'm like, this is.

[Ash]

Okay, you know what? They're not going to stop coming, so.

[Elena]

Holy shit.

[Ash]

Just live in a place of dam. You're a beaver now.

[Elena]

Yeah, I. You be beaver.

[Ash]

You are beaver. So, like Cheryl, everybody who knew Marlon Cromwell insisted he didn't have any enemies in life. Everybody loved him.

[Elena]

What the fuck is going on?

[Ash]

Yeah, he was just a pretty regular dude. He worked as a stock clerk at a local grocery store, which he'd done since graduating high school. And otherwise he was a really shy, quiet guy.

[Elena]

That's sad.

[Ash]

Yeah. At the time of his death, he was married to Christina Cromwell, and they had one child together. But on the day of the fire, Christina and their son were visiting Christina's mother like, 150 miles away, luckily.

[Elena]

Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm glad they weren't there.

[Ash]

Me too. So she seemed like an unlikely suspect, you know, but they weren't willing to rule her out entirely because they said, huh, that's crazy.

[Elena]

That's suspicious.

[Ash]

Is that interesting? Now, there were things about Marlon and Christina's relationship that also struck investigators as particularly odd. For one thing, they had been married for a number of years, but they got divorced and then remarried just a few months before the fire.

[Elena]

Oh, yeah.

[Ash]

And just as interesting, two months before Marlon was killed, Christina had taken out a life insurance policy in his name in the amount of $75,000.

[Elena]

You know.

[Ash]

Damn.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

Damn. Like, wow.

[Elena]

Yeah, yeah. Just damn.

[Ash]

Just damn.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Okay, So a quick check of Christina's background revealed that she and Paul Prevailer just so happened to have been working together at the same insurance company at the time.

[Elena]

Oh, no. I see where this is going.

[Ash]

Yeah. Paul and Christina's workplace behavior led many of their co workers to assume that they were carrying on a spicy affair.

[Elena]

Oh, no. Then go the away. Yeah, just together.

[Ash]

Just leave. Go away. Run away together. It's shitty, but it's much less shitty.

[Elena]

Than killing people because everyone will be fine without you, but just move on.

[Ash]

Well, while interviewing those co workers, detectives learned that not too long ago, Christina had undergone a pretty serious makeover, during which she lost 75 pounds, dyed her hair blonde, got contact lenses, and capped her teeth. So she, like, she went for it.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

It was like a makeover scene in Clueless.

[Elena]

Holy shit.

[Ash]

Yeah. The remarkable transformation they insisted had been, quote, unquote, coached by Paul, who seemed to have quite a lot of control over Christina.

[Elena]

Ew.

[Ash]

Yeah, Paul's an ew. Detectives interviewed Paul, who admitted that he had gone on a few dates with Christina, but he claimed there was really nothing more to their relationship than that. Never really serious, but, like. But she capped her teeth for you.

[Elena]

And also, like, you guys are married?

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

Like, he's just sitting there being like, yeah, we went on a few dates. Yeah.

[Ash]

Wait, no, no, they're not married. I thought they were married, Christina and Paul.

[Elena]

No, no, I mean, married to other people.

[Ash]

Yeah. Oh, they're married to other people.

[Elena]

That's what I mean. Like, she's. Oh, she's sitting there. I'm like, why is this not hitting you the way it's hitting you?

[Ash]

I was like, he's like, no, they' not married. I thought you thought they were married to each other.

[Elena]

Like, they are married to other people. And he is being like, we went on a few dates. Like, that's something you do when you're married to other people. And it's like, no, no, babe, you're. There's spouses. Spouses. You're. You can't. You can't just go on a date. Like, he's like.

[Ash]

It's very much against spouse blowing past.

[Elena]

The whole, like, just. Yeah, we went on a few dates, but, like, what was it serious? I'm not even worried about if it's serious or not. You went on a date?

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

What the fuck? Everyone's so fucking. Everyone's so cavalier.

[Ash]

They really are. Well, and also.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

Damn. I told you. You are a beaver. So detectives couldn't help feeling that Paul was not telling the entire truth. They were like, interesting. They were like, damn.

[Elena]

I said, damn, Paul.

[Ash]

So they actually assigned an officer to track Paul and Christina's movements. And two days later, when Christina got the first payout for Marlon's insurance, the detail followed them to Las Vegas, where they checked into an expensive hotel together, racked up a very large bill, and in the six weeks that followed, Christina received $25,000 from the Life insurance company and transferred all of that money to Paul in a series of seven transfers, even though their relationship wasn't super serious.

[Elena]

There's a lot of lying happening here. And bad lying.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

And I'm just gonna get caught.

[Ash]

Cheryl is still alive. And guess what, everybody? Paul doesn't even know Cheryl at this point. Paul's married to another woman at this point because. Correct. He is married. Sorry, I should have said that when you brought that point up.

[Elena]

I'm shook.

[Ash]

If he is married, but not to.

[Elena]

Cheryl, just to another woman.

[Ash]

Yeah, we'll get there.

[Elena]

So he's been. He's been at it for a long time.

[Ash]

Oh, Paul. Paul stays at it. But yeah. So seven months later, Paul used that money to purchase his first bar in Burbank, which he named the Grand Dutch. Now, based on their investigation, detectives in the Cromwell case theorized that following her makeover, Christina divorced Marlon and started her relationship with Paul, only to re bury Mr. Cromwell less than a year later in order to arrange for his murder and to cash out on that life insurance policy.

[Elena]

Cool.

[Ash]

Is it cash out or cash in? I feel like do both work.

[Elena]

I think you can use both. Yeah, I would say both is fine. Thanks.

[Ash]

Well, unfortunately, all the evidence they had was CIRCUMSTANTIAL and there was really no way for them to prove that either Christina or Paul was involved in the death. It just kind of looked like it.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

According to author Ken Hurwitz, it appeared to the district attorney that even though they were, like, they were the likely ones to commit this murder, it was best to wait and hope that more evidence would arrive.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And boy did it.

[Elena]

Because, remember, it's just best to wait.

[Ash]

It's just best to wait.

[Elena]

They probably did it, but, like, let's.

[Ash]

Let's say wait for more evidence. And, like, yeah, it's like. Okay. Now. After learning of Paul Prevailer's connection to the death of Marlon Cromwell, detectives who were investigating Cheryl's death looked for an insurance policy taken out in Cheryl's name. And they found that just a few months before her death, Paul started a policy with a $25,000 payout.

[Elena]

Eek.

[Ash]

And this policy also had a double indemnity clause, meaning it would pay double in the unlikely event of an accidental death or murder.

[Elena]

Oh, no.

[Ash]

I feel like insurance companies need to not advertise this and just have it be a happy surprise in the midst of a tragedy.

[Elena]

That's what I think. It's like, you know, like, it's really sad. Everybody's upset. We're going through grief, and, oh, here's a little silver lining.

[Ash]

Guess what?

[Elena]

You get more.

[Ash]

You got the good insurance.

[Elena]

You didn't know that ahead of time.

[Ash]

Yes.

[Elena]

So we can be sure that you didn't take that into consideration when all this was going on.

[Ash]

Exactly. Well, while investigators continued to pursue the insurance angle, two detectives paid a visit to Paul's first wife, Layla, hoping to learn what kind of husband Paul had been to her. Any. Anything interesting about his past?

[Elena]

Oh, come on. Layla, lay it on us.

[Ash]

Had never met Cheryl and actually didn't even know she existed.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

When the detectives informed her of her death and when they told Layla that Cheryl had been killed, she started trembling in, quote, could not get her hands to be steady. She was, like, freaking out.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

What a year it's been, you guys. I know that I have a lot to celebrate and a lot to give myself credit for. Honestly, the past few years have been pretty tough, especially for me and Elena. And it feels like a good time to step back and, you know, look at your life in this moment and commemorate it with something beautiful, something sparkly, even. In all seriousness, if you're thinking of buying jewelry, there really is no better place to do it than blue nile.com, whether you're looking for a bit of special sparkle for yourself or to give the best holiday gift to somebody you love. Your mom, your wife, your partner, whoever. Blue Nile offers some of the highest quality standards in the industry at prices significantly below traditional retail. If you know me, I agree with Marilyn Monroe. Diamonds are my best friend. I love a good, sparkly sister. And Blue Nile actually helped me find this gorgeous tennis bracelet. And tennis bracelets are very in right now. So I went immediately to Blue Nile and they helped me out and God it is so beautiful. Go to blue nile.com to shop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999. That's blue nile.com blue nile.com Life doesn't happen bi weekly, so why should Payday, the money you earn can be in your hands today with earnin. Earnin is an app that gives you access to your pay as you work up to $100 per day or up to $750 per pay period. Just download the Earn an app and verify your paycheck. Then access up to $100 a day as you work and leave an optional tip. Any money you access plus tips are automatically repaid from your next paycheck. I feel like this is so perfect because you know when you're low on cash, that's when these unexpected things pop up. Maybe an unexpected trip to the vet, God forbid. Maybe just like upcoming rent and you just forgot about it. In those moments when money isn't moving as fast as your dreams are, Earn in provides the financial momentum you need to keep moving forward. Download Earn in today, spelled E A R N I N in the Google Play or Apple App Store. When you download the Earn an app, type in Morbid under Podcast when you sign up. It'll really help the show. Morbid under Podcast subject to your available earnings, location, daily max and pay period Max. Seen earnin.com to for details. Earnin is a financial technology company, not a bank. Bank products are issued by Evolve bank and Trust member fdic. She told the Burbank detectives that her marriage to Paul had started out like most marriages do. He was romantic, attentive. They seemed genuinely happy to be married. He seemed happy. They did have money trouble from the early days. Former girlfriend Morgan St. James said money had always been important to Paul. He wanted things that were that were far beyond his reach. And according to Layla, it was important to Paul that people see him as successful, which he defined in financial terms.

[Elena]

Okay.

[Ash]

He even made it a point to inform everybody that everybody he met that his cousin Stanley Kubrick was a wildly Successful film director, hoping they would associate him with Kubrick's success.

[Elena]

I'm sorry, what?

[Ash]

Wait, wait, wait. You gotta say it.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

What? I told you. I told you. This is quite an interesting case.

[Elena]

I had no idea Stanley Kubrick was gonn make an appearance here.

[Ash]

I don't think Stanley Kubrick did either.

[Elena]

I didn't know. Yeah. I don't think he had any intention of making.

[Ash]

I think Stanley said, keep me out of this.

[Elena]

He said, I'm going to go make an art film by. Yeah, that. What?

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Yeah. However, Paul was nothing like his cousin.

[Elena]

We still. It doesn't sound like it. No, it doesn't sound like it.

[Ash]

In fact, after being fired from the lapd, he seemed to just move from one scheme to the other, just blowing his and Layla's money along the way. Wow. On, like, frivolous. Shortly after their wedding, that was when Leila noticed a big shift in Paul's personality. She said he became volatile and moody. He would just ignore her. Instead, he would choose to stay up late watching old movies and clean his guns, like, instead of interacting with her at all.

[Elena]

That's a no for me.

[Ash]

Yeah. His indifference to Leila soon turned to anger and violence. And I just want to give a trigger warning for, like, domestic abuse here. This is a pretty rough one. In fact, Leila reacted so physically to the news of Cheryl's death, basically because there were so many occasions where she believed that Paul was actually going to kill her.

[Elena]

Oh, that's awful.

[Ash]

Yeah. One afternoon, just about a year into their marriage, she went out for a few hours, and when she got home, she found that Paul was extremely drunk and he was pissed about something like, enraged. Before she could even open the driver's side door, Paul yanked the door open and was on top of her, punching her in the face over and over and screaming at her, I'm going to kill you.

[Elena]

Whoa.

[Ash]

He then dragged her out of the car and started beating her head against the side of the car to the point where she lost consciousness. And he only stopped when he saw another car approaching. She ended up being hospitalized for several days with very, very severe injuries to her head and face. But she declined to press charges because she was afraid of Paul still, obviously. So he never faced any kind of consequences for the assault. Wow. Yeah.

[Elena]

That's horrifying.

[Ash]

Horrifying. Now, his attack on Leila seemed to come out of absolutely nowhere, but it was just the beginning of a series of events that caused her to be absolutely terrified of her husband. A month or so after the attack, in the car, Leila suffered two serious hit and runs, like one after the other, that left her really badly injured, but luckily still alive. In one of the incidents, she recalled the driver stopping after he hit her car and looking at her in the rear view mirror, but she could only see his eyes, so she couldn't identify him.

[Elena]

What the.

[Ash]

Now, despite not seeing the driver either time, she believed the hit and run incidents had definitely been orchestrated by Paul in an effort to get rid of her. And in each case, there was also an insurance policy that paid out $5,000 after each incident. So they got $10,000, or I really should say, Paul did.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

When asked why, if she believed he was trying to kill her, did she stay with Paul for so long? She explained that she believed if she tried to leave, he would kill her at that point.

[Elena]

Yeah, it must be terrifying.

[Ash]

Yeah, of course. And as we know, that is the most dangerous time to leave an abusive partner. And in the end, it turned out that the fear that made her stay was actually also the thing that finally convinced her to leave Paul.

[Elena]

Good.

[Ash]

Just a few weeks after that second hit and run, Paul convinced Leila to join him for a day in the mountains. And he said, you know, we'll do some target shooting. So she reluctantly agreed to go with him. I know she reluctantly agreed to go, but when they got into the woods, Paul just paced around for a while and never fired a shot. A shot. Excuse me. And then decided it was time to go home.

[Elena]

Just abruptly. I don't like that at all. So at that point, that sounds like he had intentions and he couldn't. Lost his nerve.

[Ash]

100. And that's exactly what Layla thought.

[Elena]

Oh, I hate that.

[Ash]

Said she. She knew. She believed that he fully intended to kill her that day.

[Elena]

Oh, that's horrifying.

[Ash]

And she knew that if she didn't leave him, it would just be a matter of days before he did get confidence to do it. So it was also around this time that she learned of Paul's relationship with Christina Cromwell, which the courts would have deemed a justifiable reason to dissolve the marriage. So she took that opportunity, and she divorced Paul.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

But also another thing to think about here is she had to have a reason to divor, like a justifiable reason.

[Elena]

She couldn't just be like, I don't want to be in this relationship anymore.

[Ash]

Yeah. Like what?

[Elena]

Dumb.

[Ash]

So hearing Lea's descriptions of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex husband Paul was, as far as the detectives were concerned, only further evidence of a pattern of behavior that had probably led to the death of his current wife, Cheryl. But the problem was they couldn't prove that he had anything to do with Cheryl's death. According to Ken Hurwitz, Paul walked Cheryl Prevailer out to the car on the night of the murder. But his employees had never said that he left the bar for enough time to physically get to the apartment, commit the murder, and get back. So he hadn't done this.

[Elena]

Jesus.

[Ash]

Physical evidence of Paul's involvement was obviously hard to come by, but the circumstantial evidence was just piling up.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Ten days after Cheryl's murder, investigators sat down with Paul's co worker and pretty much the closest thing he had to a friend, a guy named Allen Halverson. They had actually worked together at the insurance company, and Halverson was drawn to Paul's charisma and exciting lifestyle. But the more time he spent with Paul, the more he started to see a side of Paul that few others had ever seen, save for his ex wife, Leila. At first, Allan was evasive and pretty much seemed to be protecting Paul, telling investigators that he just knew how much Paul loved Cheryl and how he would never do anything to hurt her. But the detectives, specifically one detective named Detective King, could tell that Halverson was an empathetic person and didn't seem accustomed to lying. So he just kept pushing until Halverson finally caved. After taking a deep breath, he looked at the detectives and said he was afraid of Paul after everything he had seen and heard.

[Elena]

Oh, man.

[Ash]

According to him, Paul wasn't just involved in the attempted murders of Leila, but also several local robberies and the death of Marlon Cromwell. And he knew this all for holy. Halverson said the two men had been out at a bar drinking together and had become quite drunk. And Paul confessed that he'd killed Marlon Cromwell. Halverson said he made the remark that quote, I killed her husband, referring to Christina Cromwell's husband.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

So the detectives could tell there was more than just fear motivating Allan Halverson's silence. Like Leila, Allen also believed that Paul would kill him if he ever said anything about the murder confession or his knowledge of the other crimes. But at the same time, he was embarrassed and ashamed for not giving the police this information sooner.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

He told Detective King, don't ask me why I continued working for him. I can't give you a logical explanation of why I did it. So at 6:45pm 4 Los Angeles Police officers armed with shotguns entered the Grand Duke Bar and announced that they were placing Paul under arrest for the murders of Marlon Cromwell and Cheryl Purveyor.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

And the attempted murder of his ex wife, Layla Prevailor.

[Elena]

Oh, shit.

[Ash]

And as they placed Paul in handcuffs and escorted him out of the car, he said, don't you guys ever give up? That he was just like, ugh.

[Elena]

Like, he's just like, oh, my God.

[Ash]

Like, wow.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Shortly after midnight, a second team of officers caught up with Christina Cromwell at the apartment she shared with her sister and placed her under arrest for the murder of her husband. Wow. Now, the evidence against Paul and Christina was pretty much almost entirely circumstantial, but there was a lot of it. And the prosecutor from the District Attorney's office, Vincent Buglose Bugliosi. Excuse me. Decided to take a chance of that. What evidence they did have would be compelling enough for a jury. When the news hit the papers the next day, the press couldn't help but draw comparisons to the popular film Double Indemnity, where a wealthy woman seduces an insurance agent and convinces him to kill her husband. Oh, it's very similar.

[Elena]

I love when they're like, we can't help but look at this and say, it's the same.

[Ash]

It is what it is.

[Elena]

It's a movie.

[Ash]

Yeah. The United Press International described the case as the Late show come to life.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Saying that the Prevailer case, quote, does Double Indemnity one better. I'm like, okay, guys, people died here.

[Elena]

This is getting wild. Yeah. It's like, this is literal. This is real people.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

It's not a movie script.

[Ash]

These are not actors. But the other aspects of the case were too good, too salacious to be ignored as far as the press was involved. Paul's previous employment as an LAPD officer, rumors of illegal abortions, and of course, his ongoing affair with Christina Cromwell, which had motivated most of the crimes. I'm like, I don't really know if it was his affair so much as it was the money, but, yeah, it was. So on May 2, Paul and Christina were both formally charged and arraigned. A short time later in district court, the judge, Joan Dempsey Klain, denied bail for both of them and remanded them to the custody of the county pending a preliminary hearing. On May 14, Bugliosi took the case to the grand jury. With a simple case, like we said, built on circumstantial evidence, the prosecutor alleged that Paul Prevailor and Christina Cromwell had been carrying on an extramarital affair for years, and that they had conspired to kill Leila Prevailor in order to cash in on her life insurance policy. And when that plan failed, they devised a new strategy, this time targeting Marlon Cromwell. And when those insurance funds were beginning to run out, they targeted Paul's new wife, Cheryl Prevailor.

[Elena]

I, like, imagine being this ruthless of a human being when you sit there.

[Ash]

And you wonder, like, did he just plan to kill her all along? Because they were married for seven months.

[Elena]

That's the thing.

[Ash]

And it's like, so he's dating Christina, and at the same time, is he just hunting for a woman to kill? To marry and kill.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

That's the thing. Was there ever any love there?

[Elena]

Like, did he pick her specifically because he was like, oh, I can kill her. Right?

[Ash]

Like, who killed her?

[Elena]

That's. Yeah.

[Ash]

Who did it actually? Like, who pulled the trigger?

[Elena]

Holy.

[Ash]

Now, Buglio. See, like we just said, couldn't connect either of the accused to the murders directly. But the circumstantial evidence, more than 30 witness statements, and multiple bank transfers were compelling enough for the grand jury to return indictments on all charges. It was actually really unusual for a jury to indict without knowing the identity of the actual killer. But Bugliosi's strategy emphasized that, quote, those responsible for the murder stood to profit from insurance policies on the victim's lives, and thus they should be held equally as responsible as whoever did commit the murders.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

On all counts, Paul and Christina pleaded not guilty. Lies. Yeah. Now, a trial date was set for November. And in the meantime, lawyers for Paul and Christina started petitioning the court to have the trial separated, arguing that it would be pre. Prejudicial for Christina to be tried with Paul, quote, because the greater number of counts against him. Superior Judge Pierce Young listened to both sides, but ultimately denied that motion to sever the trials.

[Elena]

He said, nope.

[Ash]

He locked those two in as co defendants. And to make matters worse for them, after Judge Young's decision, the prosecutor's office announced that they'd be seeking the death penalty.

[Elena]

I mean, honestly, if. And again, we've. We've gone. If you've listened to this, you know our stances on the whole. Yeah, we're gray, like, super gray. But I lean more towards being against it if there's. If there's a case where you. It makes sense that they're going for it. This makes sense. Like, I can see why they were going for it here.

[Ash]

Yeah, same. So Paul and Christina's trial began on November 18, 1968, which is weird, because today is November 19, which is the very next day. But we were actually originally slated to record this yesterday.

[Elena]

That is weird. And that happens a lot.

[Ash]

That's the thing. It's something that happens so often. But so, yes, years later, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi would make a name for himself as the prosecutor in the case against the Manson family. Say it. Say it.

[Elena]

Say it.

[Ash]

Say it.

[Elena]

Damn. That's crazy, though. Yeah.

[Ash]

And subsequently, as an author like yourself.

[Elena]

Oh, my God. There's some big players in this.

[Ash]

I know. But at the time, because this all happened before that, he was young and pretty relatively inexperienced as a prosecutor. He was green. He was green. So those two facts left many people wondering if he was the right person for the job. People were like, I don't know if this case is gonna go like we want it to. But when it came time for those opening arguments, everybody was about to have egg on their face.

[Elena]

A big disgrace.

[Ash]

Yes. I don't know the rest of the words. Something all over the place.

[Elena]

But years later, something all over the place.

[Ash]

Right. It kicking your can all over the place.

[Elena]

All over the place.

[Ash]

Is it kicking your can?

[Elena]

You got mud on your face.

[Ash]

You big disgrace.

[Elena]

Kicking your can all over the place.

[Ash]

Why does that feel wrong?

[Elena]

I don't know.

[Ash]

I guess your can is your butt.

[Elena]

Yeah, I'm looking it up.

[Ash]

I like that.

[Elena]

Yeah, we were right.

[Ash]

Okay.

[Elena]

I second guessed myself. I need to stop doing that.

[Ash]

I second guessed myself, too.

[C]

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[Ash]

Well, years later, Bugliosi himself would write, I sometimes wave an opening statement, feeling that it takes the edge off my witness's testimony when the jury has already heard the story from me. But in this case, he understood that the timeline was long and pretty complicated, the evidence was not always explicit in its importance, and the killer was still unknown. So he decided to take some time to clarify these finer points of the case and told the jury that the deaths of Marlon Cromwell and Cheryl Prevaler had, quote, all the earmarks of planned executions. He continued saying, we intend to prove by very strong circumstantial evidence that Paul Prevailor was responsible for the murder of his wife Cheryl, emphasizing the word responsible to mean it was him who set things in motion, not necessarily pulled the trigger. Yes, but he is responsible here.

[Elena]

Interesting.

[Ash]

So lawyers for the defense, on the other hand, they actually chose to waive their opening statements, which I didn't know was an option.

[Elena]

I also didn't actually. Maybe I did.

[Ash]

Yeah. I feel like it's not something that really pops up in our case.

[Elena]

I think I knew that it was a thing. It just. It really doesn't pop up in our cases a lot. Yeah, I can't even think of one, to be honest.

[Ash]

But with more than 100 witnesses called and a large amount of complicated evidence, the trial dragged on for almost three months. So during this time, most of the public's attention was focused on Paul and Christina's behavior in the courtroom, which. Which many people found to be in poor taste. Paul's former girlfriend, Morgan St. James, said Paul was flirting and winking with the court reporter, and Christina showed up in a miniskirt.

[Elena]

What?

[Ash]

Yeah, not really either. Things you want to be doing while you're on trial for murder?

[Elena]

Probably not.

[Ash]

But despite the distractions, Bugliosi stayed mostly focused on what evidence he could show to the jury to convince them of Paul's guilt. He wasn't able to prove Paul pulled the trigger in either case, obviously, but he was able to show the bank transfers that happened shortly after each murder occurred, and the policy started paying out.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

And it was the timing of the murders and the transfers more than anything else that really seemed to get through to the jury. Because that's hard to argue.

[Elena]

It is.

[Ash]

Like you got numbers in front of you.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

But regardless of who actually committed the murders, the quick transfer of funds, seven in total, was, according to Buglio, see, evidence that neither murder would have occurred without Paul's orchestration.

[Elena]

Exactly.

[Ash]

Now, if his strategy was focused and simple, intended to make sense to anybody on the jury, the defense had different ideas about how they should proceed. Rather than attempt to, you know, refute the prosecution's evidence and witness statements or anything like that, lawyers for Paul and Christina attempted to place blame on each other because they each had their own set of lawyers.

[Elena]

There it is. I was waiting for that.

[Ash]

Yeah. Paul's lawyer, Mel Albom, argued that Christina had orchestrated both murders. In order to have Paul all to herself.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

And her lawyer argued that Christina was just another victim who'd been manipulated by Paul. Which is kind of believable.

[Elena]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Ash]

Now, on February 15, Pugliosi gave his closing remarks. He summarized the case for the jury as just a simple matter of murder for profit and criticized the defense for, quote, throwing up a smokescreen around the facts of the case in order to escape into the darkness of reasonable doubt. Which is poetic.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And correct.

[Elena]

Escape into the darkness. Yeah.

[Ash]

I love it.

[Elena]

If you listen to the Re Watcher, it made me immediately think of into the darkness.

[Ash]

Into the darkness.

[Elena]

Go listen to the Rewatcher.

[Ash]

Go listen to that show. It's great Mel album. Meanwhile, tried to place blame on the prosecution's maiden witness. You might remember one Allen Halverson.

[Elena]

Oh, I do.

[Ash]

And he argued that it was actually Halverson who had killed Cheryl. Oh, not true. But after closing statements were giving the jury given. The jury retired for deliberation. On February 18, after three days of deliberation, they returned to announce that they found Paul Prevailor guilty on two counts of first degree murder.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

And guilty on one count of attempted murder.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Yeah. So they found him guilty across the board.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

And they found Christina Cromwell guilty of one count of first degree murder as well. Vincent Bugliosi's case had been very complicated, as we know, very circumstantial. But in the end, he was able to convince that jury that each defendant had played essential roles in the deaths of their spouses, even if they didn't do the killing themselves.

[Elena]

That's very, very interesting.

[Ash]

Yeah. And as a green prosecutor at the.

[Elena]

Time, that's the thing. Like, that's very fascinating. And I mean, he must have been very persuasive.

[Ash]

Oh, yeah.

[Elena]

With such a circumstantial case. Yep. To be for beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Ash]

I think. I think those. Damn. Damn. I should just name this episode.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

I think those transfers really spoke for themselves. The fact that they. There are, you know, two deaths here, and there's times between them. Very specific. And those transfers align so perfectly, like, in conjunction to that timeline. You know what I mean? So Paul and Christina were back in court for sentencing on February 24, 1969. And Bugliosi followed through on his earlier statements and asked the jury to sentence each of them to death for their roles in the murder. He told the jury, to Paul Prevailor, the taking of a human life is like taking a drink of water.

[Elena]

That's scary.

[Ash]

That hits Christina's attorney David Kogas argued that his client was, quote, not an equal partner in the slaying of Cromwell and that she went along with the crime only because she was under purveillor. Svengali influence.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

Pulling out the Svengali.

[Ash]

I know. I had to look that up. The following day, February 26, the jury announced their decisions. For her role in the murder of her husband, Christina Cromwell was sentenced to life in prison, but she did get the eligibility for parole after seven years.

[Elena]

Oh. Whenever you hear life in prison and then you're like, but after seven years, you can probably get out. It's like, what is that?

[Ash]

Yeah, I think I always said that, too.

[Elena]

Like, what a weird, conflicting statement.

[Ash]

The rest of your life. Unless you can maybe seven years of the parole board in seven years.

[Elena]

Like, wow.

[Ash]

As for Paul Prevailor, though, they sentenced him to death in the gas chamber. Yes. Which is. Honestly, you have to think about how remarkable that is, because that is remarkable. Everybody on that jury knew, like, sat there knowing that he did not actively kill Cheryl and did not act. I mean, we don't know if he actively killed them, but they.

[Elena]

But they could not technically prove that he had a actual physical hand in the act itself.

[Ash]

Right. But to sentence him to death, even still is interesting.

[Elena]

Interesting.

[Ash]

That's the thing. This is an interesting case. Yeah. But when asked for comment on the sentences, Paul told reporters it was the sentence he'd been hoping for. He said, I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison.

[Elena]

Whoa.

[Ash]

So just, like, one final jackass.

[Elena]

Yeah. It's him being like, you know what? I wanted that. I wanted that, actually. So thanks, like, okay.

[Ash]

You petulant fucking child. But for those most affected by the trial, the verdicts and sentences came, as is, obviously a significant relief. Allen Halverson and Leila Prevailer, the state's two most important witnesses, actually started spending a lot of time together during the trial.

[Elena]

Shut up.

[Ash]

And they eventually got married.

[Elena]

Oh, my gosh.

[Ash]

Because they had the bond over, like, this very unusual shared experience.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Isn't that awesome?

[Elena]

I hope they had a lovely life.

[Ash]

It sounds like they did.

[Elena]

Oh, good.

[Ash]

Yeah. You know, and in 1972, as you might remember. Well, not saying you were alive, but.

[Elena]

Wow. That's not what I was saying.

[Ash]

Just because it's come up a lot. California repealed the death penalty, and all death row inmates had their sentences commuted to life. Which, honestly, is actually hilarious to me that he was like, I wanted to go to the gas chamber.

[Elena]

And the state was like, oh, sorry, you thought.

[Ash]

Only a few years later, too. So this meant that Paul, who had been sentenced, like we just said, to die in prison, was now eligible for parole, though as early as 1984.

[Elena]

Forgot about that.

[Ash]

So in response to.

[Elena]

Elsa was not alive then either.

[Ash]

She wasn't just. You might have. You were. You were like on your way, though.

[Elena]

No, I'm at the end of the next year. I wasn't on my way.

[Ash]

I don't know how it all works.

[Elena]

No way.

[Ash]

They were thinking about you. Actually, they weren't. You were surprised?

[Elena]

No, I was gonna say they didn't actually.

[Ash]

You weren't. You were the stomach flu. But in response to that change later, Leila Halvorson. Halverson, now.

[Elena]

Oh, look at that.

[Ash]

And California Assemblyman Patrick Nolan started lobbying very hard to keep Paul, who they described as a cold, calculating killer, in prison for the rest of his life.

[Elena]

Yeah, I get that.

[Ash]

They said, we're asking everyone to join us with requesting that the Board of Prison Term reopen the Prevailer case and revoke his parole in light of the cold blooded crimes committed by him.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And it turned out that they were not alone in their quest. They also had the support of the Los Angeles County County District Attorney's Office. In a statement to reporters, Deputy District Attorney Steve Souder said Prevailer is performing on paper like a model prisoner, but he himself did not believe that Paul had genuinely reformed in any way.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And openly supported the Halverson's case. So in 1976, Christina Cromwell was actually paroled from prison.

[Elena]

Oh, I knew you were going to tell.

[Ash]

She did not spend a lot. A lot of time in there. In the years that followed, though, she did become a key witness in the District Attorney's efforts to keep Paul behind bars whenever he became available for or eligible. Excuse me. For parole.

[Elena]

Yeah. And I mean, what else are you.

[Ash]

Gonna do at a parole hearing in 1986, when Elena was alive, Christina Cromwell testified for nearly four hours. And during that time, she told the board that in 1966. This is crazy. Paul had given his parents a trip to Mexico as an anniversary party, but then tried to have his parents murdered as they traveled between Tijuana and Ensenada.

[Elena]

I'm sorry. He tried to have his. He tried to kill his own parents.

[Ash]

Paul's father was shot in the face during the attack, but was unable to identify the shooter. And the case went cold.

[Elena]

Oh, this guy's a monster. He was going way far back.

[Ash]

His parents, anniversary. He was gonna have them killed and Cash in on the money. Yeah. He's a. He's a cold blooded. Yeah. But at the time, it was also revealed that during the attack on Leila, where Paul beat her brutally, Christina was in the car waiting nearby to help Paul flee the scene.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

Which I'm like, yeah, yeah, that's up. Yeah. Now all of Paul subsequent.

[Elena]

Awful.

[Ash]

It is awful. All of Paul's subsequent bids for parole have been denied and he remains in prison to this day at Mule Creek Correctional Facility in California.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

Yes.

[Elena]

That wasn't even intentional. I just meant damn.

[Ash]

In reflecting on the case for the Discovery Channel executive director of the Los Angeles Police Museum. It's a mouthful. Told producers Paul was from a moneyed family and certainly could have found easier ways to get money. Yeah. He said as these attacks went on, each got more and more violent. I don't think he was killing for insurance. I think Prevailor was a stone cold killer.

[Elena]

I think. Exactly. I think it started off as a money thing.

[Ash]

Yep.

[Elena]

Like. Or what he was trying to think of as a money thing. But there's no way.

[Ash]

I think the money was an added bonus. I think he liked the feeling of power, of being able to just be like that person gone.

[Elena]

And he's obviously like a monster.

[Ash]

I mean, like, he was a monster.

[Elena]

In his own marriages. Yeah, he's a monster.

[Ash]

He had his own parents attacked as an anniversary.

[Elena]

That was shot in the face. Face. Like, are you kidding me?

[Ash]

Yeah, like wild.

[Elena]

Poor Layla.

[Ash]

I know.

[Elena]

Like, he's a monster.

[Ash]

And then to find out that the woman he was cheating on you with was waiting the car in the getaway.

[Elena]

Car and then she's just out walking around like, what? That's.

[Ash]

Yeah. Scary. Scary.

[Elena]

Strange story.

[Ash]

Very strange case.

[Elena]

Very interesting.

[Ash]

And who the killed Cheryl?

[Elena]

Well, that's a. That's the. The main takeaway.

[Ash]

And he killed Marlon is.

[Elena]

Who the fuck is the person who did it?

[Ash]

We don't know. They escaped into the darkness, literally. Which is honestly, like the scariest shit I've ever.

[Elena]

Very haunting.

[Ash]

Yeah. You just wonder who he was connected to. And.

[Elena]

Wow. That's the thing. Like, you don't know how far this goes.

[Ash]

They just don't.

[Elena]

But we'll never know. That's. That.

[Ash]

That's the. The case for you. And we hope you keep listening.

[Elena]

We hope you keep it damn. Damn.

[Ash]

But not so weird that all you.

[Elena]

Can say is damn.

[Ash]

But I've been there too, so keep it that way.

[Elena]

I can't help it.

[Ash]

Bye.

[Elena]

Damn. Damn.

[Ash]

Fevers.

[Elena]

Sa.

[Ash]

If you like morbid you can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcast Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[D]

They say Hollywood is where dreams are made, a seductive city where many flock to get rich, be adored and capture America's heart. But when the spotlight turns off, fame, fortune and lives can disappear in an instant. When TV produce producer Roy Raiden was found dead in a Canyon near LA in 1983, there were many questions surrounding his death. The last person seen with him was Lainey Jacobs, a seductive cocaine dealer who desperately wanted to be part of the Hollywood elite. Together, they were trying to break into the movie industry. But things took a dark turn when a million dollars worth of cocaine and cash went missing. From wondering comes a new season of the hit show Hollywood and Crime, the Cotton Club Murder. Follow Hollywood and Crime the Cotton Club Murder on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of the Cotton Club Murder early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus.