Episode Summary: Morbid Episode 687 - The Last Call Killer (Part 1)

Release Date: July 7, 2025
Title: The Last Call Killer (Part 1)
Host: Ash and Elena
Podcast: Morbid by Morbid Network | Wondery

Introduction

In Episode 687 of Morbid, titled "The Last Call Killer (Part 1)", hosts Ash and Elena delve into the chilling and complex case of a serial killer responsible for the gruesome murders of several men during the late 20th century. This two-part series meticulously examines the lives of the victims, the horrific nature of their killings, and the investigative challenges that spanned years before apprehending the perpetrator.

Case Overview

Initial Discovery and Crime Scene:

The episode begins on the afternoon of May 5, 1991, when a turnpike maintenance worker in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, makes a horrifying discovery while emptying trash barrels at a rest stop. After struggling with an unusually heavy trash bag, he unveils the decomposing body of a nude, middle-aged white man with multiple knife wounds in his chest and back. The condition of the body suggests it had been dead for about a day.

Host Insight:

"The criminal investigation unit in Lancaster County obviously had seen their fair share of homicides over the years... but this was unlike anything any of those officers had ever seen before." [15:48]

Victims and Their Lives

1. Peter Stickney Anderson (54 years old):

• Background: Former investment banker, unemployed at the time of death, divorced, living alone in downtown Philadelphia.
• Personal Struggles: Recently diagnosed with PCOS, increased alcohol consumption, and living a secluded life hiding his true sexual identity. Peter was secretly involved with men while maintaining marriages to women.
• Last Days: Last seen leaving the Townhouse Bar in Manhattan after a heavy drinking session.

2. Thomas Mulcahy (57 years old):

• Background: Technology consultant from Sudbury, Massachusetts, married with four children.
• Personal Struggles: Dealing with his bisexuality, which strained his marriage and led to increased alcohol use.
• Last Days: Last seen at the Five Oaks Tavern in Manhattan, spending his final hours drinking and socializing before his disappearance.

3. Anthony Marrero (Unnamed Age):

• Background: Originally from Puerto Rico, worked at the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan, struggled with addiction, and had a tumultuous personal life.
• Personal Struggles: Faced rejection from his family due to his sexual orientation, leading to instability and frequent relocations.
• Last Days: Last seen at the Five Oaks Tavern, heavily intoxicated and spending time with a mysterious man whom he introduced as a nurse.

4. Michael Sakura (56 years old):

• Background: Born and raised in Ohio, served in the army with an undesirable discharge possibly related to his sexuality, moved to New York's West End.
• Personal Struggles: Navigated life as a gay man in a hostile environment, dreamed of Broadway success but faced personal and financial instability.
• Last Days: Last seen at the Five Oaks Tavern, actively socializing with a man he introduced as a nurse before his disappearance.

Host Reflection:

"It really breaks my heart that a lot of these men didn't get to live comfortably... and in Michael's case, they never got that opportunity." [71:59]

The Killer's Modus Operandi

The murders shared disturbing similarities:

• Method of Killing: Multiple stab wounds, often fatal with additions of post-mortem mutilations.
• Body Disposal: Disarticulation of bodies with surgical precision, indicating knowledge of human anatomy and significant planning.
• Disposal Sites: Bodies were disposed of in garbage bags at various rest stops, making it difficult to trace back.
• Victim Profile: Predominantly gay men or men dealing with concealed sexual identities, indicating the killer may have targeted individuals based on their sexual orientation or hidden lives.

Notable Crime Scene Details:

• Precision in Mutilation: Bodies were meticulously dismembered and placed in garbage bags, suggesting ritualistic or personal motives.
• Absence of Personal Belongings: Minimal personal items found with victims, making identification and motive determination challenging.

Investigative Challenges and Breakthroughs

Initial Investigation:

• Fingerprints and Evidence: Early crime scenes yielded multiple fingerprints and palm prints that did not match any profiles in local or national databases.
• Profiling the Killer: Authorities theorized the killer was a man with considerable strength and anatomical knowledge, possibly repeat offender given the meticulous nature of the crimes.

Serial Connection:

A year after Peter Anderson's murder, a similar pattern emerged with the killings of Thomas Mulcahy and Anthony Marrero, leading detectives to consider the possibility of a serial killer. However, without solid leads or identifiable patterns beyond the method of disposal, the cases began to go cold.

Key Quote:

"Detective Matthew Ken said, 'At that point, you're looking at a potential serial killer.'" [53:57]

Renewed Investigation:

The case saw renewed interest when similarities in the dismemberment techniques and disposal methods linked the murders together. Advances in forensic science during the late '80s and '90s began to play a role in re-examining old evidence, though fingerprint mismatches continued to hinder progress.

Victim Identification and Further Murders

Michael Sakura's Case:

• Discovery: Michael Sakura's dismembered body parts were found separately, with his head discovered first, followed by other body parts.
• Identification: Biometrics linked the remains to Michael, revealing he was another victim of the same killer.
• Additional Murders: The discovery of Ronald Calandria's dismembered head expanded the scope of the murders, indicating a pattern that was increasingly concerning to law enforcement.

Forensic Breakthrough:

A significant clue emerged when fingerprints and a tattoo ("Linda") found on Michael Sakura's remains matched records from across state databases, providing a breakthrough in identifying the victims and linking them to previous murders.

Conclusion of Part 1

The episode concludes with the unresolved nature of the case, setting the stage for Part 2 where Ash and Elena will explore the detective work that eventually led to the killer's apprehension. The series promises to uncover the intricate details of how law enforcement pieced together the puzzle of the Last Call Killer, highlighting the evolution of forensic techniques and persistent investigative efforts.

Closing Remarks:

"This is a gut-wrenching case... and it's so weird that we had never heard of this case because I'm like, what do you mean I didn't know about this." [71:56]

Notable Quotes

• "The criminal investigation unit in Lancaster County obviously had seen their fair share of homicides over the years... but this was unlike anything any of those officers had ever seen before." — Ash [15:48]
• "Detective Matthew Ken said, 'At that point, you're looking at a potential serial killer.'" — Ash [53:57]
• "This is a gut-wrenching case... and it's so weird that we had never heard of this case because I'm like, what do you mean I didn't know about this." — Ash [71:56]

Stay Tuned:
Join Ash and Elena in Part 2 of "The Last Call Killer" as they reveal how persistent detective work and advancements in forensic science finally led to capturing the elusive murderer behind these tragic and brutal crimes.

Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisement segments and focuses solely on the narrative content discussed in the episode.