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Hey everyone. Carter Roy here. If you're loving Murder True Crime Stories, you need to check out Crimes of, the newest show from Crime House. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of the paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Their first season is Crimes of Infamy, the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. Crimes of is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or find them on YouTube at Crime House Studios. New episodes out every Tuesday. This His Crime House gossip can take many forms. Sometimes it's harmless chatter, like talking about a bad haircut, or maybe the latest drama at your HOA meeting. In other cases, it's informative, maybe letting your friends know to avoid the creepy guy at work. But it can also be salacious rumors about what people do behind closed doors. At first, it might seem like fun and games, but if you're not careful, gossip can also be deadly. In 1963, 43 year old Daisy Zick learned that lesson in the worst way. That year, she was found brutally murdered at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. By that point, Daisy had been the subject of town gossip for years. After a troubled marriage, she had a complicated relationship with her second husband. Everyone knew she saw other men behind his back. After her death, the rumor mill only intensified. It was yet another reason for people to whisper Daisy's name. But even then, there was one question no one knew the answer to. Not even the police. Who killed Daisy? And why? People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios that comes out every Tuesday and Thursday at Crime House. We want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following true crime stories wherever you get your podcasts and to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get ad free listening, early access to every two part series, and exciting bonus content. This is the first of two episodes on the 1963 murder of 43 year old Daisy Zick. Today I'll introduce you to Daisy. After escaping an abusive marriage, she was hoping for a fresh start in Battle Creek, Michigan. But just as she was starting to find peace, someone Took it all away. Next time, I'll discuss the investigation into Daisy's tragic death. I'll tell you about the promising early leads that made detectives overconfident and the mistakes that allowed Daisy's killer to slip through the cracks. Over six decades later, we still don't know who murdered her. But plenty of people have their own theories. All that and more coming up.
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Daisy Zick was born over a century ago on February 5, 1919. Things were different back then. Instead of a hospital, Daisy's mom gave birth to her on the family farm. That's where Daisy's dad grew crops like wheat. If you asked him or his neighbors, they probably would have said they lived in Hastings, Michigan. But technically, they were part of a rural township located between three cities, Hastings, Charlotte and Battle Creek. Daisy spent her entire childhood in that tiny triangle. By day, she learned what she could in a one room schoolhouse along with her younger sister. There wasn't a high school in the area, which meant their education ended at 13 years old. That didn't bother Daisy too much, but it did mean she had a lot of free time. By 14 years old, Daisy was an outgoing and adventurous girl. She was desperate to experience life beyond her small town. So when a 22 year old man named Neville King promised her the world, Daisy believed him. In 1930, 3. Daisy and Neville, who were neighbors, started dating. Just a few months in, they decided they wanted to get married. Daisy's parents definitely had some reservations, but it seemed like Neville made her happy. They gave the couple their blessing. At that time, an age gap like theirs wasn't as controversial as it would be today. But it wasn't very common either. Daisy and Neville had to drive down to Indiana to tie the knot because the marriage laws were less strict than in Michigan. Afterwards, the newlyweds returned to Hastings, but they didn't stay there for long. Daisy was eager for a fresh start and Neville wanted to make good on his promise. Sort of. Instead of showing her the world, Neville took her about 30 miles south to Battle Creek. There he got a job at the United Steel and Wire Company. He made good money enough that the couple was able to buy a house on the outskirts of the city. And it wasn't long until they were ready for the next step. Growing their family. In 1936, 17 year old Daisy had a son named James. He was a healthy baby born with a distinctive pink birthmark on his face. Daisy was thrilled to be a mother. But by then, James was the only good thing in her life. After they got married, Neville began showing his true colors. And they weren't pretty. He had a hair trigger temper and a horrible attitude. No matter what Daisy did, he was never happy. He'd spend hours shouting at her and calling her names. Eventually, he started accusing her of cheating on him. Even though Daisy promised she wasn't, he didn't believe her. In a fit of rage, he'd smash up the house or hit her. Once, in the midst of a particularly violent episode, he punched her so hard he broke her nose. The year after James was born, the abuse reached a tipping point. Neville threatened to kill Daisy during one of their arguments. That's when she knew she had to leave him. Her life depended on it. Getting a divorce in 1937 wasn't easy, but Daisy had the full support of her parents and friends. One night that year, she left with baby James and made her way back to the family farm. A few months later, a court granted her a settlement. Neville was ordered to pay $3 a week in child support, which is about $67 in today's money. The judge allowed him to visit his son on Sundays and holidays, but Daisy's father wouldn't have it. He arranged for the entire family to be out of town every weekend, swearing to beat Neville half to death if he ever saw him again. Neville did eventually get his visitation rights enforced in Court. After that, not even Daisy's dad could stop him from seeing James. And Daisy was too busy to fight him on it. $3 a week wasn't enough to raise a son, so she'd started a job at the Nabisco Biscuit factory in Battle Creek. Her younger sister Dorothy got the same position at the rival Western Biscuit Co. Just a few blocks away. To avoid the 20 mile commute, the two of them rented an apartment in the city. They stayed there during the week, leaving James with Daisy's parents. On the weekends, she would come back to the farm to see him. It was tough being away from her child, but Daisy made the best of it. Before she drove home every Friday, she stopped by the toy store to get James something special. A few years later, Daisy ended up switching to the night shift at the nearby Kellogg's cereal factory. She always made sure to bring him the little prizes from the boxes. By then, James had a toy chest that was the envy of every kid in town. Life was good, comfortable. But by the early 40s, big changes were coming. In December 1941, the US officially entered World War II. Cereal was an important part of wartime rations. With factories like Kellogg's and Nabisco, Battle Creek became an essential part of the war effort. Before long, the little city was flush with money and people. Nearby Fort Custer had become a recruitment hub for soldiers. With the influx of so many young men, Battle Creek quickly became a playground for all the singles in the area. 22 year old Daisy took advantage of the emerging party scene. She was naturally vivacious, short but outspoken, with fiery red hair that was big and curly. She quickly became a regular at singles events and dances in the newly bustling town with all the men around. And Daisy never had a shortage of dates. But there was one who kept coming back and eventually stole her heart. Floyd Zick was a lot like Daisy. At 21 years old, he was thin and handsome, an extrovert who knew how to make people laugh. The two of them loved to go dancing and drinking together, swapping animated stories across the bar. It wasn't long until they were dating and madly in love. Just a few months into their relationship, Floyd proposed. Daisy said yes, and they got married around 1941. But the newlyweds didn't have much time to celebrate. That same year, Floyd was drafted into the army and sent to Europe to fight. While he was deployed, Daisy continued her full life, dividing her time between work in Battle Creek and raising her son on the family farm. After four years, the war came to an end and Floyd And Daisy could finally be together. Sometime in 1945, he returned to Battle Creek. He got a job as a butcher and a house with Daisy. By then, James was nine years old and still spent most of his time with his grandparents. Floyd was a caring, responsible stepfather. He tried to bond with James. There were a few fishing trips here and there, but because of their living arrangements, the two were never that close. Even so, the family had some of their best years. In the late 1940s, Daisy and Floyd were happy, and James thrived in the classroom. He became the first member of his family to attend high school in 1949. Four years later, he graduated and started work as a land surveyor. Unfortunately, just as her son was coming into his own, Daisy's life started to fall apart. Floyd had always liked alcohol, but as the 1950s dawned, he started drinking more and more. He became less attentive, which left Daisy feeling neglected. Though he was never abusive like her first husband, she knew what it felt like to be an afterthought, and she vowed it would never happen again. So Daisy went out on the town with or without Floyd. With her bubbly personality, she was never short on dance partners. And as Floyd's drinking worsened, Daisy started doing more than just dancing. Over the next few years, she had a series of affairs. She tended to focus on one man at a time, dating him for a few months before moving on to someone else. By 1959, she was 40 years old, and her cheating was an open secret. Though Battle Creek had grown quite a bit since the war, it was still small enough that gossip spread quickly. And eventually, it would be Daisy's downfall.
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Learn more@WhatsApp.com By 1959, 40 year old Daisy Zick was living her life by her rules in Battle Creek, Michigan. She had a good job at the Kellogg's factory in town. And though she and her husband Floyd didn't have the healthiest relationship, Daisy found fulfillment elsewhere. She'd had several affairs over the last decade or so. It's not clear how much Floyd knew, but he was likely aware of her infidelity and it seemed like he didn't mind. During the same period, he was seeing at least one other woman. And Daisy wasn't exactly shy about her infidelity. All the neighbors noticed that lots of cars came and went from the house while Floyd was at work. Whether it was an open arrangement or something that went unsaid, Daisy and Floyd stayed together in their middle age. And even with her husband's drinking, she felt she had a lot to celebrate. At 21 years old, her son James got married in Battle Creek a couple of years after that. In late 1959, she became a grandmother. At the same time, Daisy's own life was moving forward in a positive direction. By 1960, she was dating one of her co workers at the Kellogg's factory, Raymond Mercer. Like her, he was married and the two of them seemed to have a unique understanding. Because of that, Raymond lasted longer than most of her other relationships. In 1962, they celebrated their two year anniversary. It was getting to the point where they felt like long term partners. Nearly every morning after Floyd went to work, Raymond would call the house and tell Daisy he looked forward to seeing her. After years of uncertainty and struggle, Daisy was entering a new chapter of her life. She was a happy grandmother, comfortable in her own skin. Even in her mid-40s, she remained a free spirit who didn't care too much about what everyone else thought of her. Considering the free love movement that would spread across the country only a few years later, she was ahead of her time. But not everyone in town approved of her lifestyle and soon enough, someone aired her dirty laundry. January 14, 1963 started like any other day for 43 year old Daisy. Floyd woke her up around 7:45am before heading to work in the heart of Battle Creek. She smiled as he leaned over her bed in his butcher's uniform, kissed her forehead and told her goodbye. As soon as she heard the front door close, Daisy greeted the day. She wasn't the kind of person to hit the snooze button and she had a lot to do before her afternoon shift on the Kellogg's factory floor. She washed her face, got dressed and carefully made the bed. She took pride in keeping her home spotless. So she made sure everything was put away before she went into the kitchen. There she packed herself a sandwich, a wedge of cheese and two pickles for lunch. Around 9:00, clock, Floyd called to check in like he did every morning. The two had a brief, pleasant conversation before Daisy let him go. She had to call her insurance company to sort out some paperwork. After that, Raymond called to say hi. It was part of their daily ritual. Daisy mentioned she was going to take a bath before a coffee date with her friend and co worker Audrey Heminger. Around 10am Audrey called to make sure they were still meeting up. Daisy told her she would see her at Veloz Restaurant soon. Over the phone, she sounded like her usual cheery self. But once Daisy hung up, something went very wrong. She never showed up at Velos. Audrey waited around, but eventually she realized Daisy wasn't coming. She figured something had come up the last minute. The two of them would catch up at the factory soon anyway. But when Audrey clocked in around noon, there was still no sign of Daisy. Audrey went over to her supervisor. Maybe Daisy had called in sick. To Audrey's surprise, their boss hadn't heard from Daisy either, which was really strange. Daisy might have been a free spirit when it came to romance, but she was always conscientious about work. The next person Audrey spoke to was Daisy's boyfriend and co worker, Raymond. He said they'd chatted a few hours ago and Daisy hadn't mentioned anything about taking the day off. Out of everyone, he seemed the most shocked to learn she wasn't at the factory. He even ran outside to the employee parking lot to look for Daisy's white Pontiac. There was no sign of it by that point. Audrey was panicked. Around 12:30pm she called Floyd to see if he knew where Daisy was. He didn't. Floyd was worried. Her car had broken down on the way to work. He told Audrey he was going home to see if she was stranded somewhere along her usual route. When he stepped outside the butcher shop, Floyd only became more anxious. It was a frigid winter day. Even in the afternoon, temperatures were below 0.6inches of snow blanketed the streets of. Floyd knew he needed to find her fast. Sure enough, he spotted the Pontiac a few miles from their house on the side of the road. He parked behind it, jumped out and ran to the driver's side door. No one was inside. Floyd wondered if Daisy had somehow collapsed in the snow. He circled the car and the surrounding area, but didn't see any Sign of her. The keys weren't in the ignition, but Floyd was able to get the vehicle started with a spare. It didn't seem like the Pontiac had broken down, so what was it doing there? Not sure what to do next, he got back into his car and raced home as fast as he could along the icy streets. As soon as he pulled in, he felt like something wasn't right. The house had a double garage with two separate doors. One side was wide open. No one in their right mind would forget to close it in the middle of a snowstorm. Floyd entered through the kitchen door, which was also partially open. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and when he saw his wife's lunch still on the counter, he also noticed a tan rug on the floor was all wadded up as if someone had kicked it. Now he feared the worst. Daisy was meticulous. She'd never forget her lunch, and she'd never leave the rug lying around like that. Floyd raced down the hall and into the living room. There was a puddle of melted snow on the rug. He called out Daisy's name as he walked into the bedroom. There was no one inside, but the place was a mess. A huge red blot bloomed on the comforter. Blood. Daisy's purse was on the ground at the foot of the bed. It had been completely turned upside down. Its contents were spread nearby, including her wallet and checkbook. Still, Daisy wasn't there. There was only one more place to look. The spare bedroom. Floyd crept down the hall, then burst through the doors. He noticed their stereo system was out of place, no longer flush against the wall. Next to it were clouds of congealed blood. Floyd's gaze followed the trail, drifting past the closet to the corner of the room. He could see Daisy's black and gold slippers and a hint of her ankles sticking out from behind the small bed. He rushed over to his wife, terrified. Daisy lay between the bed and the wall. One of her legs was bent at an impossible angle, and her chest, face and arms were covered in so much blood that Floyd was barely recognized her. He felt sick. His tears burned his eyes. He could tell she was gone, but he still bent down to feel for a pulse. There was nothing. Floyd staggered to his feet, his mind reeling in a daze. He rushed for the upstairs phone, but when he picked it up, there was no dial tone. He tried punching in a few numbers and didn't hear a thing. The line was cut. Tears ran down his cheeks as Floyd barreled down to the basement. They had a second phone line There. Luckily, it was still working. Floyd was so distraught that he couldn't even call the operator. Instead, he called his boss at the butcher shop and asked if he could call the cops. At 1:15pm Floyd's boss reported the murder. With the police on their way, Floyd called Audrey. Next. Word spread across the Kellogg's factory. Within minutes, Daisy Zick was dead. And it was no ordinary crime. The sheer brutality was unlike anything the small community had ever seen before. And the ensuing investigation would shake the town to its core. And Doug Limu and I always tell you to customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you to feel it. Cue the emu music. Limu.
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be best friends with a murderer? Or to escape a kidnapping? Or to be the daughter of a serial killer? I'm Jack Vanek. And I'm Alexis Linklater and we're the hosts of the First First Degree podcast. Every Wednesday, we dive into a new true crime story told through the eyes of somebody intimately connected to the case itself. From the world's most infamous crimes to unbelievable cases you've never even heard of. We examine the ripple effects that one single moment can have on an infinite number of lives. Join us as we navigate the twisted paths of crime and uncover a closer understanding of the darkness that walks among us every day. Listen to the First Degree every Wednesday and Thursday. Wherever you get your podcasts.
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On January 14, 1963, 43 year old Daisy Zick was murdered at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. The call went out around 1:15 that afternoon, but emergency dispatch didn't send out a radio alert as you might expect. Recently, local journalists had found a way to listen in on the police's radio calls in the hopes of hearing breaking news behind the scenes. There was also a simmering feud between the Michigan State Police and the local officers. So to keep things private, state police had an unconventional system. Whenever an officer stopped for lunch, they radioed in their location. And if they were needed while on break, dispatch called the restaurant directly. That's how state trooper Ralph Cartu found out about Daisy Zick. He was sitting at a diner just before he dug into a hot meal. Soon after, he and his partner, Robert Dockery met Detective Charles Kahn at the Zix tiny ranch style home. They shivered outside in the quiet suburban neighborhood. It wasn't the type of place anyone expected to find such a vicious scene. While Detective Khan and Trooper Dockery searched the house, Trooper Cartoo took care of the questioning. He got a play by play account from 45 year old Floyd who still seemed in shock. Next Trooper cartoon moved on to the neighbors. A cleaning woman down the street told him she didn't hear anything unusual that morning. But she did say Daisy's bedroom drapes were open earlier than usual. According to her, Daisy didn't usually get to them until around 11 when she left for work. However, she noticed they were wide open as early as 9:30 this morning. It was a small discrepancy, but the trooper noted it down. The woman who lived across the street, Mrs. Defrance was a bit more helpful. She said she spotted a figure outside the Zix home sometime after 10am they were bundled up against the cold so it was hard to tell, but she guessed it was a man. He looked average height with dark hair and a blue jacket. She remembered it being an Eisenhower cut, A waist length military style coat that was popular after World War II. Mrs. DeFrant saw him waiting outside the kitchen door shaking a bit in the snow. When the trooper asked if she thought the man seemed strange, she dropped her voice. She said she hadn't paid much attention to him. She often saw men she didn't know coming around to see Daisy. But now that he mentioned it, it was strange that he was outside with without a car in a snowstorm. Especially because when she peeked out her window again at around 10:30, the garage door was open and Daisy's vehicle was already gone. While the trooper did interviews, Detective Khan gathered physical evidence. The 48 year old was a veteran on the force, but even he hadn't seen many crime scenes like this one. On average, the county only logged a single murder each year. It didn't take him long to call for backup. He needed a professional crime lab and a forensics team. While he waited for the experts to arrive, the local sheriff's office sent over a man of their own. He was the one who noticed a fallen picture next to the north wall of the guest bedroom. That combined with the dislodged stereo equipment indicated that Daisy had fought back against her attacker. She must have knocked several things over while trying to defend herself. That explained the dark stains all over the south and east walls of the room. Floyd originally assumed his wife had been shot, but the blood spatters told a different story. She was probably stabbed many Times that level of overkill suggested an intimate relationship with the killer, though it was too early to know for sure. While her white blouse looked undisturbed, her brown wool pants had been yanked down. It was possible Daisy had been sexually assaulted, but they needed a medical exam to confirm. The forensics team arrived around 4pm they verified she'd been stabbed repeatedly in her chest and back, almost exclusively on her left side. The killer had also tied her hands, using a cord from one of her robes. Her lipstick was smeared and mixed in with the blood on her right sleeve. It was hard to tell, but there was some kind of greasy smudge there, too. An identical stain was found on her underwear. While the experts took samples from the crime scene, the rest of the investigators checked out the tiny house. In the master bedroom, they discovered the robe used to bind Daisy's hands. They also found a stray white button under the bed that didn't match any of her clothes. A single men's shoe was nearby, but its mate was nowhere to be found. A few feet away was Daisy's overturned purse, which the killer had clearly rifled through. Some cash was missing from the wallet, but it didn't seem like anything else was taken. None of the drawers were open either. That probably meant theft wasn't the motive, which made sense, considering how brutal the murder was. To figure out what actually happened, they needed even more evidence. Back in the kitchen, police found the most puzzling clues of all. They couldn't understand why the phone line had been snipped. Detective Khan took a sample of the wire, hoping the pattern of the cut would match a murder weapon. At that point, he noticed a kitchen knife in the sink. The wooden handle had a dark spot on. Probably wasn't sharp enough to sever a phone cord, though. But maybe the blood on it was Daisy's or her killer's. While Kahn took a closer look, Trooper Cartwhee was examining the bunched up rug. It seemed like someone had slipped, knocking it out of place. If that was the case, it was possible Daisy's final struggle had started right there near the door. However, the strangest thing they found was in the living room. There was a puddle of snow on the rug, but no water in the kitchen or outside the front door. Door. There was no sign of forced entry, and considering the neighbor's testimony, they assumed the culprit came through the kitchen. But how did a sopping wet killer make it to the living room without a trace? Investigators wondered if they'd cleaned up some of the evidence before leaving through the garage. A blood stain on the garage door handle seemed to confirm that theory. But they couldn't find any other evidence to back it up. And that wasn't the only challenge they were facing. The ranch house was so small, it was hard to fit the forensics team and the state troopers inside at the same time. The problem was it was negative 10 degrees outside, meaning everyone had to be crammed together. Potential evidence was bound to get damaged or contaminated. On top of that, it was difficult to lift any solid fingerprints. Nearly all the surfaces were covered in some kind of oily varnish. Investigators ended up with 12 usable samples. Not bad, just less than they were hoping for. In all likelihood, most of them belonged to Floyd or Daisy, but only time would tell. After searching the house and the garage, there was only one place left to look. Daisy's sparkling white 1959 Pontiac Bonneville. It wasn't an expensive vehicle, but it was pretty flashy, with eye catching fins above the taillights and a slick, creamy interior. Daisy had loved it. And when it came to the Pontiac, her obsession with cleanliness helped investigators. It was easy to spot a bloody streak near the passenger door handle and some distinctive yellow fibers under the hood. In fact, the blood was so obvious, Detective Kahn wondered how Floyd had missed it when he checked the car earlier. He made a note of it for later. For now, they needed to examine the rest of the vehicle. The team ended up finding a lot of fingerprints, especially on the exterior. That wasn't too surprising on its own. This was the era of gas station attendance. There were a lot of reasons a stranger might brush up against a random vehicle. The more important samples were found inside the car. Forensics had high hopes for two strong prints on the rearview mirror, probably left there by someone adjusting the view. They worked overtime examining the Pontiac, finishing around 3am on January 15, 1963. Combined with their search of the Zick house, they felt like they had a solid foundation. The most important pieces of evidence were the knife in the sink, the white button in the wingtip shoe under the bed, and the fingerprints from the rear view mirror. Then there were the witness statements. Based on those, Daisy had been killed somewhere between 10 and 10:30am it was a good start, but there were plenty of reasons to be unsure, too. Floyd and Daisy's boyfriend, Raymond Mercer, were the two most obvious suspects, but they both seemed to have solid alibis. Nothing appeared off about Floyd's behavior. Although he somehow hadn't noticed the blood on the car, he did appear to be genuinely upset about Daisy's murder. And he swore up and down that he was at the butcher shop all morning. Meanwhile, Raymond was already at the Kellogg's factory when Daisy was killed. At least as far as they could tell. Something wasn't adding up. Given Daisy's busy social life, detectives were sure there was more to the story. And if they wanted the full picture, they'd have to look at everyone in Battle Creek as a potential suspect. Because it turned out Daisy Zick wasn't the only one keeping secrets. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Carter Roy and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next time for part two on the murder of Daisy Zick and the public scandal that exploded after her death. True Crime Stories is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media, rimehouse on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review and follow Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll get access to both at once. Plus exciting bonus content will be back on Thursday. True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios, this episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team, Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertzofsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Tara Wells, Beth Johnson and Russell Nash. Of the many sources we used, we found murder in Battle Creek, the Mysterious Death of Daisy Zick by Blaine Lee Pardo. Especially helpful to our research. Thank you for joining us and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Fairy underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates excludes Massachusetts. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, starting with the crimes that inspired Hollywood's most iconic horror horror villains. Follow CRIMESOF wherever you get your podcasts or find them on YouTube at Crime House Studios. New episodes out every Tuesday. See Oklahoma City like never before. There's more to discover and even more to explore. Dozens of districts to fit every mood shopping and dining. Did we mention the food? 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Episode: UNSOLVED: The Kellogg Murder 1
Host: Carter Roy
Date: September 23, 2025
In this episode, Carter Roy delves into the life and unsolved death of Daisy Zick, a 43-year-old woman brutally murdered in her Battle Creek, Michigan home in 1963. Exploring Daisy’s tumultuous personal life and the mounting scandals that followed her, Carter retraces her steps leading up to the murder and the immediate, botched investigation that left the case cold—and the rumor mill running rampant. This is the first episode of a two-part series, focusing on Daisy’s background, relationships, and the events of the day she was killed.
“People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don't always get to know the real ending.”
— Carter Roy (03:39)
“She was a happy grandmother, comfortable in her own skin. Even in her mid-40s, she remained a free spirit who didn't care too much about what everyone else thought of her...But not everyone in town approved of her lifestyle and soon enough, someone aired her dirty laundry.”
— Carter Roy (16:47)
“That level of overkill suggested an intimate relationship with the killer, though it was too early to know for sure.”
— Carter Roy, on the nature of the wounds (31:50)
The host, Carter Roy, speaks in a clear, empathetic, and narrative-driven style, blending factual reporting with emotionally resonant storytelling. The tone is respectful yet unflinching, focusing on Daisy as a person—a mother, wife, and friend—not merely as a victim.
Carter announces that part two will explore the flawed investigation, promising leads, public scandal, and the variety of theories that have emerged in the decades since Daisy Zick’s murder.
For more, follow @crimehouse on Instagram and listen to part two on Thursday.