Morbid Podcast: Melissa Ann Shepard — The Internet Black Widow

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: February 23, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode dives into the life and crimes of Melissa Ann Shepard, notoriously known as "The Internet Black Widow." With a blend of deeply researched true crime storytelling and candid humor, Ash and Alaina examine how Shepard preyed upon vulnerable, often elderly men, leveraging romance, manipulation, and poison for personal gain. The tone remains empathetic for the victims while sharply critical of Shepard’s chilling tactics.

Main Theme & Purpose

Purpose:
To explore the criminal history, methods, and legacy of Melissa Ann Shepard, centering on her pattern of exploiting and harming elderly men — often through marriage and subsequent poisoning — and examining how her actions rippled through families and legal systems in both Canada and the US.

Episode Structure:

• Case background and initial victim story
• Exploration of Shepard's early life and previous crimes
• Deep dives into subsequent victims
• Reflections on the effects upon families and society
• Notable psychological and legal commentary

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Case

[10:01]:

• Alaina sets up the story of Fred Weeks, an elderly widower in Nova Scotia, who, after losing his wife of 54 years, meets "Melissa Ann Russell" (Shepard's alias) in 2012.
• Their whirlwind romance quickly leads to marriage, but soon after, Fred falls ill.

Quote:

"He was in fact lonesome. And they hit it off and started a whirlwind romance." (Alaina, [11:47])

2. The Pattern Emerges: Romance, Poison, & Power

[11:50–19:01]:

• Fred’s friend and officiant, George, discovers after the wedding that Melissa is a convicted killer known as the Black Widow (from Canadian investigative show 'The Fifth Estate').
• Fred quickly falls gravely ill; toxicology finds unexplained tranquilizers in his system.
• Melissa confesses to dosing Fred with drugs in his coffee but claims no murderous intent. Charges are dropped from attempted murder to "administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy a person" ([18:02]).

Quote:

"I just want Fred to know the situation he might be in. You know, he could be in danger." (George, [13:21])
"I'm charging you with administering a noxious thing." (Ash, [15:49])

Insight:
Police were hamstrung by the lack of "actionable crime" until Fred was hospitalized; early intervention is difficult even with known repeat offenders.

3. Victim Empathy & Community Response

[19:05–20:09]:

• Despite being poisoned, Fred expresses no ill will:

"I'm just very glad to have it all over with and have it come to an end. I'm not worried about what she gets." (Fred, [19:01])

• The hosts reflect on how devastating it is for elderly people trying to move on after loss to fall prey to such manipulation.
• Shepard’s targeting of the elderly is labeled "inherently sad" by both hosts.

4. Shepard's Backstory: Roots of a Black Widow

[24:33–25:54]:

• Born 1935 in Burnt Church, New Brunswick; later lived on Prince Edward Island.
• Locals remember her as entitled, scornful, and always wanting more than she’d earned.
• After her first husband left, she pivoted to high-effort financial crimes, collecting 30+ fraud convictions under a series of aliases (e.g., Melissa Ann Weeks, Friedrich, Sheppard, Stewart).

Quote:

"Fraud always gets me because I'm like, that's so much work. So much admin...You could just get a job and it would probably be less work!" (Ash, [25:26])

5. The Stewart Death: Escalation to Murder

[27:36–31:47]:

• Shepard marries Gordon Stewart (still technically married to her first husband), another elderly widower.
• Gordon’s family is warned:

"Tell Gordy to get away from her. She's trouble." (Kate Reeve, Gordon’s sister, [27:36])

• Stewart dies in a suspicious car accident; Melissa claims self-defense after rape, but autopsy reveals Stewart was heavily sedated and the sequence of events is implausible. Motive found to be financial: she inherited his pension benefits.
• Convicted of manslaughter; receives only a two-year sentence, which Ash and Alaina lampoon as shockingly lenient.

6. Reinvented as "Survivor" & Repeat Offending

[32:01–34:43]:

• Shepard rebrands as a battered woman; leverages battered woman syndrome to speak on lecture circuits and in documentaries.
• Upon release, she quickly resumes her predatory behaviors, this time targeting American widower Robert Friedrich in Florida.

Quote:

"The Holy Spirit told me this man would be my next husband...I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit." (Melissa Shepard, [34:44])

7. Systematic Exploitation of Elderly Widowers

[35:15–44:03]:

• Marries Friedrich, isolates him from family, and quickly moves to get power of attorney and change his will.
• Family notices health decline and suspicious financial activity.
• Despite reports to Florida Elder Abuse Commission, Melissa blocks in-home monitoring; she also threatens the family:

"He's going to leave all the money to me and the portion he set aside for you and your two brothers...that portion is now going to the Christian retreat. And you are getting nothing. A big fat zero. So try that on for size and have a nice day." (Melissa voicemail to Bob Friedrich, [39:46])

Quote (Host Reaction):

"How are you still a mean girl in your goddamn golden years, in your twilight years?" (Ash, [41:28])

8. Online Predation: The Digital Black Widow Era

[51:10–62:07]:

• Shepard progresses to using online dating sites to find her next victim: Alex Strategos, 73.
• Within two months, she drugs him, seizes power of attorney, attempts to move him to long-term care, and siphons $20,000.
• His son, Dean, pushes for medical staff to test for drugs and ultimately helps rescue his dad. Melissa is caught, pleads guilty, and receives a five-year sentence.

Quote:

"I can thank my son for saving my life because the rest home discovered drugs in my system." (Alex Strategos, [56:40])
"You don't mess with ice cream like that." (Alaina, [60:13])

9. Shepard’s Perspective & Lack of Remorse

[62:07–63:22]:

• Even after numerous convictions, Shepard denies wrongdoing, says she was only seeking love:

"I can't say that from now on, I'll be a perfect citizen, but I'm gonna try day by day to behave myself...but I can't say that that's going to be the outcome." (Shepard, [63:01])

10. Expert Commentary: Calculated, Cold, and Dangerous

[63:22]:

• Forensic expert Eric Hickey:

"They see these men as simply objects...They are black widows. They are quite calculating, and they are pretty good liars." ([63:22])

11. Release, Restrictions, and Ongoing Risk

[64:44–66:01]:

• Melissa is released at age 80 with strict conditions: curfew, no Internet, notify police of romantic interests.
• Quickly reoffends; caught using Internet at the library, but charges dropped.
• Multiple victims and their families continue to say she remains a threat.

Quote:

"I think she's a wicked woman. She's not safe with any man. And she'll do it again." (Fred Weeks, [66:01])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Host Moments

• "I just really feel bad for them because this is the ultimate betrayal, and your whole world comes crashing down." (Ash, [58:11])
• "Let old people vibe, man." (Ash, [58:51])
• "If I'm even like, don't you feel like hot garbage inside? Because if I have to get mean with someone, I feel like hot garbage inside." (Ash, [45:44])
• "Diabolical. Not to use ice cream, but to use my evening snack against me. How dare you?" (Alaina, [60:13])
• "If you are drugging people, not cool. Cut it out." (Ash, [58:03])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Start of Case Discussion | [10:01] | | Fred Weeks' Story & Wedding | [11:03] | | Discovery of Shepard's Criminal Past | [13:14] | | Drugging & Legal Fallout | [14:33–18:36] | | Shepard’s Background & Fraud History | [24:33–25:54] | | The Gordon Stewart Case & Death | [27:36–31:47] | | Battered Wife Lecture Circuit/Documentary Era | [32:01–34:43] | | Robert Friedrich’s Decline & Family Conflict | [34:43–44:03] | | Alex Strategos: Internet Victim | [51:10–62:07] | | Shepard's Denial & Psychological Analysis | [62:07–63:22] | | Parole Problems & Final Updates | [64:44–66:11] | | Final Reflections/Host Advice | [66:11–68:37] |

Original Tone & Style

• Empathetic towards victims and their families
• Intensely critical and often incredulous at Shepard's repeated offenses and the justice system's handling
• Witty banter and comic relief interwoven with heavy subject matter ("Mean girl energy perseveres," [41:40])
• Advocacy for elder safety and recurring joke-advice for Shepard to "just chill out and pick up a hobby" ([66:14–66:36])

Takeaways

• Pattern of Victimization: Shepard systematically preyed on grieving, isolated older men — befriending, drugging, then financially and legally exploiting them.
• Legal Frustrations: Repeated difficulties in proactively intervening or delivering meaningful sentences, exposing gaps in protection for vulnerable elders.
• Persistent Danger: Even post-conviction and with advanced age, both families and experts agree Shepard remains a threat, prompting severe parole conditions.
• Empathy & Prevention: The episode closes with hosts advocating vigilance, support for elderly relatives, and the importance of reporting suspicions early.

Summary in a Sentence

This episode exposes how Melissa Ann Shepard, "The Internet Black Widow," orchestrated a decades-long pattern of targeting vulnerable elderly men through romance, poison, and deception — leaving heartbreak, loss, and a legacy of legal shortcomings in her wake, all illuminated with Morbid’s signature blend of empathy, insight, and humor.