MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries: Introducing: American Criminal

Podcast: MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Host: Wondery | Ballen Studios
Guest: Jeremy Schwartz, host of "American Criminal"
Episode Date: August 25, 2025

Overview

In this special crossover episode, MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries features a chilling chapter of "American Criminal," hosted by Jeremy Schwartz. The episode introduces listeners to a deep-dive true crime podcast that explores notorious cases in America’s criminal history, focusing this season on the infamous serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, and the tragic case of Adam Walsh.

The segment played is from episode two, "The Head in the Canal," an atmospheric retelling of the discovery of a child’s body in Florida in 1981, entwining the disturbing and convoluted paths of confessed killers Lucas and Toole with the national impact of Adam Walsh’s disappearance and murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing "American Criminal" and Its Purpose

• Jeremy Schwartz gives an overview of his podcast: a deeply investigative series exploring major American crime stories, unraveling each case over multiple episodes.

  • Quote [00:02]:
    "Every season we explore some of the biggest, most devious history making crime stories America has ever seen.... We dive deep into these cases over a number of weeks to bring you the whole story from start to finish." — Jeremy Schwartz

• This season centers on Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, whose confessions to hundreds of murders created confusion and controversy for law enforcement, the media, and the legal system.

  • Quote [00:35]:
    "We're looking at everything from the motivations. ...to how the investigation unfolded and the way the media reacted." — Jeremy Schwartz

• The podcast also connects their story to the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh, a case that transformed America's approach to missing children.

  • Quote [01:24]:
    "Adam's story...literally changed the way America responds to missing children. But how does Adam Walsh figure into the story of Lucas and Toole? Well, you'll just have to tune in to find out." — Jeremy Schwartz

2. Narrative Deep Dive: The Head in the Canal

Discovery of the Body [02:13-07:06]

• The main segment retells the harrowing day citrus farm workers find a child’s head in a Florida canal on August 10, 1981. Their initial disbelief quickly gives way to horror as they realize this is no mannequin, but the remains of a young boy.

  • Quote [02:35]:
    "At first the guys laugh it off. What a strange thing to see in a canal... But the laughs don't last. The closer they get... the clearer they can see it. This isn't a piece of plastic... It's the head of a person, a child." — Narration

• The workers contact police, and discussions at the scene suggest the remains might be those of Adam Walsh, missing since July from a Hollywood, Florida department store.

  • Quote [03:25]:
    "During a break in the interviews, one of them asked the other if it couldn't be the boy who went missing last month. Little Adam Walsh vanished from a department store in Hollywood, Florida, on July 27." — Narration

• The mood is tense, somber, and reflective of the collective trauma and dread of the community.

Background: Lucas and Toole [07:06-09:50]

• Begins backstory of Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, who met in Jacksonville in 1979 and formed a dangerous and ambiguous alliance.

  • Quote [07:21]:
    "Two men with extensive criminal records and plenty of prison time under their belts met outside a homeless shelter in Jacksonville...the story gets fuzzier. Later, both Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole would claim that what came next was a cross country murder spree." — Narration

• Their claims of widespread murder are difficult to verify, clouded by their penchant for lying and the lack of evidence.

  • Quote [08:34]:
    "When you're talking about two men like Henry and Otis who are convicted killers and known liars, how much can you really take their word for it?" — Narration

• The podcast raises the central dilemma: if Lucas and Toole didn’t commit all the murders they confessed to, who did?

Origins of Their Partnership—and Becky [07:10-10:46]

• Details their early days in Jacksonville, their environment, and how they involved family—including Becky, Toole’s young niece, who would later have a disturbing involvement with Henry.

  • Quote [09:17]:
    "Otis introduces Henry to his mother and stepfather and his sister's kids. Frida, who everyone calls Becky, is 12 with long dark hair, and she seems kind of shy. ...Henry Lee Lucas has a history of sexually abusing young girls, and Becky is just his type." — Narration

• Their lives are depicted in grim detail, setting the stage for their subsequent crimes.

The Murder of Sandra Mae Dubs [10:47-13:58]

• Tells the true story of Sandra Mae Dubs, stranded at night on a Texas interstate. After her car breaks down, she is approached by a stranger, goes missing, and is later found murdered.

  • Quote [12:08]:
    "She's so close to the end of her trip...But now it means there are far fewer people passing by... Someone stopping to help her. She's saved." — Narration

• The case is left with little evidence, and her precious ring—a possible clue—never surfaces.

The Schlesinger Double Homicide [13:58-15:28]

• Relays the subsequent murder of Molly and Harry Schlesinger at their shop, not far from where Sandra's body was found.

  • Quote [14:32]:
    "Molly and Harry Schlesinger are lying in spreading pools of blood, both of them shot in the head. Miraculously, they're still alive when they're found, but both...die of their wounds later that night." — Narration

• The disturbing proximity and timing of these crimes suggest a pattern or, perhaps, the presence of a serial killer pair operating along I-35.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the confusion surrounding Lucas and Toole’s confessions [01:08]:
  "It got to the stage where no one knew what was the truth and what was fiction." — Jeremy Schwartz

• On the horror of discovery [02:56]:
  "Knowing that you found the remains of a child is traumatic enough, but alongside those feelings is a morbid kind of curiosity." — Narration

• On the impact of Adam Walsh’s case [01:24]:
  "Adam's story...the way his parents and community mobilized to search for him...literally changed the way America responds to missing children." — Jeremy Schwartz

• On the ambiguity of killers' confessions [08:34]:
  "When you're talking about two men like Henry and Otis who are convicted killers and known liars, how much can you really take their word for it?" — Narration

• Atmospheric storytelling, note on style [15:33]:
  "This episode may contain reenactments or dramatized details. And while in some cases we can't know exactly what happened, all our dramatizations are based on historical research." — Jeremy Schwartz

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 — Introduction to "American Criminal" and this season’s focus (Jeremy Schwartz)
• 01:24 — Teasing the link between Adam Walsh and Lucas/Toole
• 02:13 — The discovery of the head in the canal: narration begins
• 07:06 — Lead-in to the history of Lucas and Toole
• 09:17 — Introduction of Becky, Toole’s niece, and her connection to the killers
• 10:47 — The breakdown, abduction, and death of Sandra Mae Dubs
• 13:58 — The Schlesinger double homicide
• 15:33 — Closing credits and research disclaimer

Tone and Storytelling Style

The episode weaves immersive, cinematic storytelling with a sense of journalistic rigor, using evocative and sometimes chilling language to draw listeners into the narrative. The host’s tone is grave yet engaging, balancing disturbing details with the broader context of public impact and investigative procedure.

Takeaways for New Listeners

• "American Criminal" offers a meticulously researched, multi-episode look at complex crime stories, not shying away from the messy realities and difficult questions that arise from notorious cases.
• The connections between crimes, the uncertainty about confessions, and the impact on society at large—especially with cases like Adam Walsh’s—are central themes.
• The true horror lies not just in the crimes, but in the ambiguity and failures of the investigative process when facing cunning, manipulative criminals.

For more: Listeners are directed to search "American Criminal" wherever they get their podcasts or visit americancriminal.com.