Episode 1 - He Thinks I’m a Masseuse

Summary

Once Upon A Con
Episode 1: He Thinks I’m a Masseuse
Release Date: February 12, 2025
Host: Caroline D'Amore
Produced by AYR Media and 32 Flavors

1. Introduction

In the gripping premiere of Once Upon A Con, Caroline D'Amore shares her harrowing personal journey from a celebrated socialite to a victim of a sophisticated con orchestrated by David Bloom, a man she once trusted implicitly. This episode delves deep into Caroline's past, her encounter with Bloom, the devastating impact of his deceit, and her relentless pursuit of justice.

2. Early Life and Background

Caroline begins by painting a vivid picture of her upbringing in Los Angeles, highlighting the complexities of growing up in the affluent yet tumultuous environment of Calabasas, California.

• Family Dynamics and Tragedy:
  "My mother's death from AIDS when I was just five years old forever impacted me in ways I'm still trying to wrap my head around." ([08:05])

• Educational Journey:
  Caroline recounts her experiences at A.E. Wright Middle School and Malibu High, detailing the challenges of fitting into a scene filled with privileged peers.
  "Life in Malibu as a teenager trying to fit in was equal parts hard and, honestly, dangerous." ([12:43])

3. Career and Personal Life

Transitioning into adulthood, Caroline shares her ventures into modeling, acting, and DJing, providing insights into her multifaceted career.

• Modeling and Acting:
  "I was like a celebrity before there were celebrities. Like, I was, like, a celebrity in middle school." ([05:50])
  She discusses her roles in films like "Sorority Row" alongside Carrie Fisher and her brief stint in the entertainment industry before pivoting to DJing.

• DJing and Relationships:
  "I just started DJing. And honestly, I learned how to be a good DJ by being a terrible DJ." ([24:10])
  Caroline details her rise in the DJ scene, including her residency at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, and her personal struggles with substance abuse.
  "What comes with being a DJ is sobriety or death. That's how I look at it." ([25:36])

4. Encounter with David Bloom

The heart of the episode revolves around Caroline's encounter with David Bloom, a charismatic man who would later betray her trust.

• Meeting at Villa Carlotta:
  Caroline describes moving into Villa Carlotta after her divorce, a prestigious building in Hollywood.
  "I found my groove at that place and I loved living there. Then all of a sudden, it became my worst nightmare." ([42:13])

• David Bloom’s Manipulation:

  • "He was strategic about it. David had a Bentley and a chauffeur one time when I was with him for dinner." ([43:40])
  • Behavior and Deception:
    "He was pathologically. He's a psychopath." ([44:43])
    Caroline recounts Bloom’s tactics of flaunting his connections and financial power to establish dominance and trust.
    "He did so many names. Oh, I'm so connected." ([43:45])

5. The Con Unfolds

Caroline details how David Bloom systematically defrauded her and others, manipulating her trust and exploiting her vulnerabilities.

• Manipulation and Deception:
  "He seemed like a really nice guy. And looking back, I was like Little Red Riding Hood being courted by the big bad wolf." ([42:55])

• Financial Betrayal:
  Bloom leverages his connections to offer Caroline lucrative opportunities, only to siphon funds under false pretenses.
  "David Bloom's a scammer. We out here, David. Nowhere to hide now." ([45:25])

6. Aftermath and Pursuit of Justice

The aftermath of the con left Caroline emotionally and financially devastated, pushing her to the brink of despair. However, her resilience shines through as she channels her pain into determination.

• Emotional Turmoil:
  "It knocked me down hard. The shame and embarrassment was just too much. I didn't want to live anymore." ([03:40])

• Turning Point and Fight for Justice:
  Inspired by past experiences and supported by her friend Tom Hamilton, Caroline vows to expose Bloom’s schemes.
  "I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to me and what he did to hundreds of other people." ([04:19])

7. Launching the Podcast

Empowered by her experiences, Caroline launches Once Upon A Con to shed light on David Bloom’s fraudulent activities and prevent others from falling victim to similar deceit.

• Dedication and Purpose:
  "This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself." ([45:25])

• Call to Action:
  Caroline passionately urges listeners to support her mission to bring Bloom to justice, emphasizing the importance of awareness and vigilance.
  "David Bloom did such a number on me that by the time it was all over, I didn't want to live." ([37:56])

8. Conclusion

Episode one of Once Upon A Con sets the stage for a compelling narrative of betrayal, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Caroline D'Amore's candid storytelling, enriched with personal anecdotes and emotional depth, invites listeners into her world of navigating deception and seeking justice.

Notable Quotes

• "I was like Little Red Riding Hood being courted by the big bad wolf, and I didn't stand a chance." – Caroline D'Amore ([42:55])

• "He was pathologically. He's a psychopath." – Caroline D'Amore ([44:43])

• "I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to me and what he did to hundreds of other people." – Caroline D'Amore ([04:19])

• "David Bloom's a scammer. We out here, David. Nowhere to hide now." – Caroline D'Amore ([45:25])

Production Credits

• Executive Producers: Aliza Rosen (AYR Media), Alex Baskin (32 Flavors), Jonathan Walton (Jonathan Walton Productions)
• Written by: Jonathan Walton
• Senior Associate Producer: Jill Piesznik
• Coordinator: Malena Krolejewski
• Sound Design & Editing: Tim Mulhern
• Supervising Editor: Victoria Chang
• Legal Counsel: Beam Gianni Douglas
• Theme Song: "Freshly Served" by Maddie Noyes

Listen to Once Upon A Con on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme. From poisoners to art thieves, we uncover.

[Holly Fry]

The secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarke]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Holly Fry]

Story Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Unknown]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

I, like, saw something that happened.

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Unknown]

There's no way is the Real Killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer, Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Monster BTK concludes a judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He was not expecting that. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Unknown]

To Hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iHeart True Crime. Plus the latest episodes will become available for free every Monday. Monster BTK Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's chief product officer. If you're just as curious as I am about the way things are built, then tune into my podcast, Building One. I speak with some of the best product builders out there.

[Tom Hamilton]

I've always been inspired by frustration. It came back to my own personal pinpoint.

[Caroline D'Amore]

So we had to go out to farmers and convince them.

[Tom Hamilton]

Following that, curiosity is a superpower.

[Unknown]

You have to be obsessed with the human condition.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Listen to Building One on the iHeartRadio app, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Caroline D'Amores. I grew up in Los Angeles, and I've been trying to find my way in this craz town ever since I was a kid. Maybe you saw me on the Hill's New Beginnings a couple years ago. Brody and I went to high school together. Audrey and I did a movie together. I even did a bit of modeling. Back in the day, Caroline D'Amore was in every fashion show in the world.

[Tom Hamilton]

Now you're known to have the best walk.

[Unknown]

What's the walk?

[Caroline D'Amore]

I just go with the music. But after years of fighting It. I finally surrendered to my destiny. Being the pizza girl. This is my new sauce, Pizza girl. Who knew Ice T would be a fan? I'm not going front.

[Tom Hamilton]

It's good.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yay. But the reason I'm doing this podcast is. Well, I was recently the victim of one of the most duplicitous con artists working today. That was my salary, my whole salary. Going to Texas to have a meeting that didn't exist. I got scammed by a man who was like a father to me. This is a lie. Why lie to me? A man I thought was helping me. I want to know why. But in reality, he was just robbing me blind while sending me on a wild goose chase. Why would you do that to me when I thought we were friends?

[Unknown]

We are friends.

[Caroline D'Amore]

After uncovering his con, I'm not going to lie. It knocked me down hard. The shame and embarrassment was just too much. I didn't want to live anymore. I almost lost everything. Everything. But I found the strength that I never knew I had to pick myself back up and fight. I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to me and what he did to hundreds of other people and what he's doing right now to dozens of unsuspecting marks in Los Angeles.

[Unknown]

I'll get to all certified checks.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I'm putting him on notice. Your days are numbered, David. I'm coming for you. And things are about to get really ugly. I'm Caroline de Moray, and this is Once Upon a Con Episode one. He thinks I'm a masseuse.

[Tom Hamilton]

I remember when you called me and you were like, should I just go fucking public with this and just, like, run with it?

[Caroline D'Amore]

I'm hanging out now with one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Tom Hamilton. We call him Hammy.

[Tom Hamilton]

I was like, absolutely. If you can't just get up on your soapbox and shout this story and protect other people from what you went.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Through, well, I'll tell you for a little bit. I was scared that it was gonna discredit me as a businesswoman, that it was gonna overshadow everything that I work so hard for and that no one else would take me seriously. But at the end of the day, I will always fight to the death for what is right and stand up for other people. Hammy's known me since I was a kid. We grew up in LA together.

[Tom Hamilton]

I remember when I first saw you, like, in middle school at Holly Schluter's house, but I don't think you remember me. But so here's the thing about Caroline is she was like a celebrity before there were celebrities. Like, she was, like, a celebrity in middle school, and everybody talked about her. And I was, like, the new kid at school that year, and I just kept hearing her name everywhere, like, Caroline D'Amore. Caroline D'Amore. And I was like, who the hell is this? You know? And then I ended up meeting her at Holly Schluter's house, who was, like, a random friend of ours.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Our school, A.E. wright Middle, was located in the Kardashian capital of the world, Calabasas, California. And it was chock full of rich kids and spoiled children of celebrities. And I just never really felt like I belonged. But Hammy was convinced that I did.

[Tom Hamilton]

Like, I remember in theater class, like, people saying good things or bad things. Like, it was just, like, that chatter about someone who's, like, kind of like the IT person of, like, the school, you know? And I remember one time someone said something bad about you in theater class. It was the girl who won Amazing Race who, like, we're friends with now. The blonde girl.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Oh, yeah. Laura Pearson.

[Tom Hamilton]

Laura Pearson said something bad about you in class, and Brittany Hughes slapped her across the face. I remember, in your defense. And you, like, weren't even around, you know? Yeah, I remember. It was seventh grade. It must have been, like, 1998 or 99. Britney Spears hit Me Baby One More Time came out that year. And it was like a drama. It was such a drama. But, yeah, I remember, like, that was my first thing on you. And then you, like, disappeared and went to New York to model or something. That was, like, the rumor.

[Caroline D'Amore]

That's really funny. It's funny how other people's perception of you is so different than what you feel, you know, and that way.

[Tom Hamilton]

And I knew that your mom passed away without even knowing you. Yeah, I knew that. I heard that, like, through chatter at school. And, like, the story then was toxic shock syndrome.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah.

[Tom Hamilton]

Which wasn't the story at all. That was, like, a story that your family came up with or what?

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, it's what my dad kind of.

[Tom Hamilton]

Told the kids or something.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah. My mom actually died of AIDS in 1989. And back then, it was such a terrifying disease with no real treatment. There was just this big stigma around it.

[Tom Hamilton]

But, like, even bigger than a stigma.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Oh, way bigger.

[Tom Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Caroline D'Amore]

So my dad, while I was really mad at him when I found out the truth, he did. He hid it from us because, you know, he didn't want us to be the AIDS kids at school. I found out through other People, not through my dad. I think it was Sharon Osborne or someone knew the story and told the Stewarts. And Kimberly Stewart was, like, really freaked out. Yeah, she, like, dragged me to the doctor to get an aids.

[Tom Hamilton]

You guys dated the same guy and she's like, what if you gave me aids, Caroline. Right.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was really. It was really fucked up.

[Tom Hamilton]

Typical of her.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I mean, it was so bad for me to find out that way was just really, really hard. And then I told my dad, and I was like, yeah, I went and gotten AIDS test. And he was like, this is why I protected you from this, because this is how people are when it comes to this disease. And it's actually so sad because my mother, she. She did have toxic shock, you know, from a tampon back then, but it wasn't life and death. She went to get a precautionary blood transfusion that was like, let's just do this as an extra, you know, layer of protection. And they didn't check back then. And she was given the AIDS virus through the transfusion. And that set off this whole, like, anti doctor thing in my family. And none of us ever went to doctors. My dad still doesn't believe in doctors. So. Yeah, crazy story. My mother's death from AIDS when I was just five years old forever impacted me in ways I'm still trying to wrap my head around. I learned at 5 years old that life was short and that I was just gonna live every moment to the fullest because I never knew, you know, my mom, you know, she was only, I think, 36 when she died. So I knew right out the gate that I was gonna enjoy this life, right? But my dad eventually pulled me out of A.E. wright Middle School, and it kind of put the brakes on my crazy social life in Calabasas. I went to Malibu. I went to Malibu High. And that's how I met some of the kids from the hills. Full circle down the road. Ended up on that show. My dad opened a pizza restaurant on pch. A tiny little hole in the wall.

[Tom Hamilton]

Oh, that's when he opened the Malibu store.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yep. To be fair, though, my dad busted his ass for the past 35 years and managed to open a bunch of locations. And D'Amore's pizza is now an LA staple. And my dad, in his own right, is a huge success. But back then, he was really struggling with his first Malibu location. And by extension, so was I. And so he moved us there, you know, and life started in Malibu. And I dropped out of high school second week of 10th grade. And then I went to New York.

[Tom Hamilton]

Okay.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah. Hopped on a plane and. Yeah. Didn't tell my dad.

[Tom Hamilton]

It's so brilliant that he moved you out of, like, the las verginess school. A.E.W. wright.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Well, that's because he thought I was just going down a bad path, you know, with all those kids, you know.

[Tom Hamilton]

Right. And it's not like you got on a better path.

[Caroline D'Amore]

No, it was way worse.

[Tom Hamilton]

But it was like. It was a bad path, but it was like a better bad path. You know Those kids at A.E. wright that stayed there, like, don't call them out. I know that's terrible. But, like, I'm just saying, like, no one went anywhere except for me out of that group.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Hammy's right. For listeners who don't know Tom Hammy Hamilton actually went on to become a major talent manager for stars like Paula Abdul and Paris Jackson and so many more. All of that hard work is paying off for him. He recently just bought his first home, by the way, Hammy, this house is amazing. Congrats. You worked your ass off and bought your own Hollywood Hills awesome home. I'm proud of you.

[Tom Hamilton]

Thank you, Carolyn.

[Caroline D'Amore]

You're welcome.

[Tom Hamilton]

You forgot to tell them that I'm a great singer and that I've produced TV shows.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, I know, right? Let me just go down the list of amazing things.

[Tom Hamilton]

And that I was a child actor. You gotta tell him everything.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Well, there's just not enough time for that, Hammy. But for me, life in Malibu as a teenager trying to fit in was equal parts hard and, honestly, dangerous. There's just so much access to, you know, drugs and partying. Malibu is. There's just so much access because what do kids with money do? They buy drugs.

[Unknown]

Monster BTK concludes the plans were made.

[Holly Fry]

Search warrants were drawn in advance on that day. I remember it was radio silence when.

[Unknown]

The chief came out and said, we've caught btk. Denial was the first reaction. Now that they got him, how am.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I going to get my hands on them?

[Unknown]

A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He was not expecting that. And you see him trying to maintain control. You see his voice change. He's acting like he's bored. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Unknown]

To Hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iHeart True Crime. Plus the latest episodes will become available for free every Monday. Monster BTK Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme, everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures, including a man who built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarke]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime, from legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching, to see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarke]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Unknown]

When a young woman is murdered, a desperate search for answers takes investigators to some unexpected places. He believed it could be part of a satanic culture.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I think there were many individuals present. I don't know who pulled the trigger.

[Unknown]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I, like, saw something that happened.

[Unknown]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He just saw his body just kind of collapsing.

[Unknown]

Two decades later, a new team of lawyers says their client is innocent.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Unknown]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Are you capable of murder?

I definitely am not.

Did you kill her? Listen to the Real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Hi listeners, I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, Season 2. Our show is a little different from other true crime podcasts because we tell the stories in which women are not just the victims, but the heroes or the villains. I'm also excited to tell you that you can now get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime stories ever told, season one and season two, 100% ad free. Plus you'll get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, Season two, one week ahead of everyone else, available only to I Heart True Crime plus subscribers. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search for I Heart True Crime plus and subscribe today.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Malibu is there's just so much access because what do kids with money do they buy drugs?

[Tom Hamilton]

And they think they're unstoppable and they think they just do whatever you want and drive drunk, get a dui, your parents, get you a lawyer. Like, there's just no rules for these people.

[Caroline D'Amore]

So true. And the crazy thing is that I was in the mix with these kids, but I was the pizza man's daughter. And so I didn't have, you know, the lawyers or the funds to kind of keep up that lifestyle. And I think that ultimately was very confusing for me because, you know, all my friends were loaded.

[Tom Hamilton]

But you were prettier than all of them.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Hey, look, has nothing to do with it.

[Tom Hamilton]

And then that really is, like, shakes up the cocktail on a whole other level of, like, being really beautiful and in a world of access like that and a privileged scene, but not actually.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Having the same backing that all my friends had. So it would turn out like, you know, if I got into trouble or if I crashed a car, it was like major, major, you know, it was bad. So, yeah, it was weird. You know, I'd travel around with, know, with like Paris Hilton and know dj, all of her record release parties, live on the road in this lavish lifestyle, and then realized, like, I. I can't do this. Like, I can't literally try to keep up with the Kardashians because the media and stuff saw me with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. They always wanted to kind of, if they don't have a story about you, they're going to create one, right? So I remember seeing these articles and they were trying to figure out, why is this girl here, right? Like, why is she there? Who is she? And I saw this article and it talked about how I was the pizza heiress.

[Tom Hamilton]

Yeah, I remember it was the time.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Of the heiresses, and I was like.

[Tom Hamilton]

That was the buzzword. I was like, you know, pizza heiress.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Like, this is. This is crazy. And then there was all these things that were like, I'm like, my dad's, you know, he can barely, you know, keep it all together with all of us kids and a tiny pizza. And people were, you know, making it out. Like I was this like, rich party girl socialite, when really I had to deliver pizzas all night long, you know, save up enough money to go to the club and all of that. And then, you know, I became kind of known in that circle. I mean, to this day, people still write articles calling me a socialite when really my family and I live paycheck to paycheck money. And our lack of it was always Something I was acutely aware of.

[Tom Hamilton]

Do you remember, speaking of Keeping up with the Kardashians? Because I vividly remember this when Kim was, like, campaigning for, like, a crew of girls to do a reality show on before Keeping up with the Kardashians.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Well, her and I were set to do reality show.

[Tom Hamilton]

It was you and her, and you guys were, like, looking. It was like. I remember that. And I was thinking. I was like, why would she want to do a show with Kim? She just wasn't, like, front and center. Like, you were on Entourage and you were, like, booking great TV shows. I remember when you were, like, between you and that other girl for Lost, like, you were, like. You were, like, a talent. You were, like, on camera talent and DJing, like, so, like. And Kim at that point was like, she wasn't front and center or, like, even presenting that type of Persona. I think she, like. She loved the idea of being, like, rich and famous, like, everyone else in this town.

[Caroline D'Amore]

And then I remember she sat me down, and she was like, so I have to do this show with my family. And it was kind of, like, letting me down. And I was like, no, you got to do what you got to do. And.

[Tom Hamilton]

And it was like, the producers were interested in the whole family.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah.

[Tom Hamilton]

And then that was Keeping up, and.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Then they were super cool. Chris and her actually reached out to and asked me to DJ on the first episode, the very first episode ever of the Kardashians. I did a whole episode of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. So they definitely, like, you know, reached out from time to time, which is really sweet.

[Tom Hamilton]

The one thing that always, like, I remember about things in your career was, like, you did that movie with Carrie Fisher, and I was just like, that's Carrie fucking Fisher. Like, that's so major.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Please don't think I'm afraid of you. I run a house with 50 crazy bitches.

[Tom Hamilton]

What was that movie called again?

[Caroline D'Amore]

Sorority Row.

[Tom Hamilton]

That's right.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Oh, by the way, I know you fucked Meghan's boyfriend. Payback's such a.

[Tom Hamilton]

You're a bitch.

[Caroline D'Amore]

My only college experience.

[Tom Hamilton]

Totally. You got to experience being a sorority girl.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Sometimes I do regret not following through with my acting career. You know, I was on a roll there for a while with parts in movies and TV shows, but I kind of gave up on it, largely because it would drive any guy I was in a relationship with absolutely crazy. If I'd have to go to set and make out with another actor on camera for a scene. Ooh, I Never made the big bucks with acting anyway. That made hanging with my celebrity friends really challenging. People had this assumption of me that I was one thing, when really, truly I, you know, I was. It's so different. The funniest story ever is that I told Paris Hilton one day, I said, I can't go with you anymore. I don't have clothes to wear every night. And it was very important that you didn't wear the same thing twice back then. She was like, well, wear whatever you want from my closet. And I was like, okay, I picked something out. We ended up in US weeklies who wore it best. And I'm wearing her outfit.

[Tom Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Caroline D'Amore]

And it was like a. It was so ridiculous. I was like, well, thank God I didn't win. I remember. I think that same article was like, I think they called me the Jack of all trades and a master of none because I had done so many different things. But when you grow up in LA and someone's like, oh, you want to model? Oh, you want to do a part in my movie? Or, you know, let's DJ and have fun. And, you know, I was. I was making enough money to pay my own rent at a very young age. You know, I was so young when I started DJing. I was being snuck in through the kitchen of a lot of clubs. Talk about Britney Spears. I was actually DJing the night that her and Justin had their dance off at Joseph's.

[Tom Hamilton]

I can't believe you were there for that.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I know.

[Tom Hamilton]

Like, the other milestone. Where were you when Brittany and Justin had their dance off at Joseph's?

[Caroline D'Amore]

I was behind the DJ decks. But the truly crazy thing is, is how I even became a DJ in the first place. I remember this director from this play that I was in called me and was like, hey, do you know any female DJs for the show I'm doing at the El Rey Theater? And fake it till you make it. I lied and said, I'm a dj. And he was like, okay, great, you're hired. I spent every dollar I could, you know, gather on new CDJs and a mixer, Pioneer mixer. And I just started DJing. And honestly, I learned how to be a good DJ by being a terrible DJ. Like, I didn't even know how to mix when I did my first gig. And I. I did it. And I remember Questlove came up to me and he was like, you know why you're good? He goes, because you're confident. He's like, you have the confidence about you now. Like, hone your skills, you know, So I. I did that, and then I got signed to the biggest DJ agency and was one of the first females to really, you know, to do it on a. On a grand scale, you know, with my big residency in Vegas, I believe.

[Tom Hamilton]

It was me who did that deal and got you that gig. Yes.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yep, yep.

[Tom Hamilton]

Thank you. Hammy at the Hard Rock Hotel. That was major, by the way. First female to have a residency in Vegas way before anyone else was doing it.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, it was fun.

[Tom Hamilton]

Pioneer.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was fun. But then it took me down, you know, Took me down. What comes with being a DJ is sobriety or death. That's how I look at it. And I was. Yeah, I was on the verge of both at different times. And living in Las Vegas is amazing and horrible for that kind of thing. Amazing because you feel like you can do anything in that drug fueled 24 7, go, go, go atmosphere. And horrible for the exact same reason. I ended up getting married to a drummer and even had a beautiful baby. I thought I was gonna get pregnant, have a baby, and then go straight back to my life. Just put my baby on my back and head to the club and dj. But turns out life changes drastically and I had a really bad night where I ended up. I had already had Bella, you know, I was still traveling. I went out DJing. I came home very early and I OD'd. I did. I OD'd.

[Tom Hamilton]

What were you on again?

[Caroline D'Amore]

What was it? I don't know. I just did a bunch of everything in one night. It was very scary. And I remember I called Bobby. Bobby was the drummer that I married, and he turned out to be a real lifesaver. He called 911.

[Tom Hamilton]

He just knew he had to call.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah. And they came and took me to the hospital and put me in a room and asked me why I was trying to kill myself. And I just realized I have to make a big, huge deal.

[Tom Hamilton]

Like, I wasn't trying to kill myself.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I wasn't trying to kill myself.

[Tom Hamilton]

Really fun time, but I just did too much.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I just did too much. I just. I was.

[Tom Hamilton]

It's the opposite. I want to live.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I did living. That's the thing. I wasn't a dark partier. I was like a fun partier.

[Tom Hamilton]

Our generation, yeah, was never a dark partier. Like, this new crowd of these new, like, gen zers, they like, party to, like, go down and they're like, like heroin. And I'm depressed. In our day and age, like, we partied to, like, have a blast and love life and all our friends, like, we didn't smoke pot to be sad or like, because we hated ourselves.

[Caroline D'Amore]

No, we loved.

[Tom Hamilton]

We loved ourselves. And the pot just, like, amplified those feelings. And, like, we partied to get high. And now this new people party to, like, get low. I'm like, guys, cocaine is supposed to be fun. Like, why do you do it? And you want to kill yourself? Like, what's going on?

[Caroline D'Amore]

I definitely did not want to kill myself. I remember, like, praying to the porcelain God on several occasions, like, if you let me live, I will never do this again. God, like, if you let me live, I'll never do this again. But that was. I really needed that. I needed that wake up call. At this point, it started dawning on me that my life had become a series of close calls and dangerous misadventures. You see, years before I was the victim of diabolical con man David Bloom, I was almost the victim of another despicable predator. A man you all heard about, a man who's been in the news. A man known as the worst serial predator of all time.

[Unknown]

Monster BTK concludes the plans were made.

[Holly Fry]

Search warrants were drawn in advance. On that day. I remember it was radio silence when.

[Unknown]

The chief came out and said, we've caught btk. Denial was the first reaction.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Now that they got him, how am I going to get my hands on him?

[Unknown]

A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He was not exposed, expecting that. And you see him trying to maintain control. You see his voice change. He's acting like he's bored. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Unknown]

To Hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iHeart True Crime. Plus the latest episodes will become available for free every Monday. Monster BTK. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarki.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together, we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season, we explore a new theme. Everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures, including a man who built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarke]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime, from legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching, to see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And Be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarke]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Unknown]

When a young woman is murdered, a desperate search for answers takes investigators to some unexpected places. He believed it could be part of a satanic culture.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I think there were many individuals present. I don't know who pulled the trigger.

[Unknown]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I, like, saw one thing that happened.

[Unknown]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He just saw his body just kind of collapsing.

[Unknown]

Two decades later, a new team of lawyers says their client is innocent.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Unknown]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Are you capable of murder?

[Caroline D'Amore]

I definitely am not.

[Unknown]

Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer, Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Hi listeners, I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, Season two. Our show is a little different from other true crime podcasts because we tell the stories in which women are not just the victims, but the heroes or the villains. I'm also excited to tell you that you can now get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime Stories ever told, season one and season two, 100% ad free. Plus you'll get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime stories ever told, season two, one week ahead of everyone else, available only to iHeart True Crime plus subscribers. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search for iheartrucrime plus and subscribe today.

[Tom Hamilton]

Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein has been arrested. He was taken into custody overnight at.

[Holly Fry]

A New Jersey airport.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I unfortunately crossed paths with Jeffrey fucking Epstein. But at the time, I had no idea who he was or what he was trying to.

[Tom Hamilton]

He's a con man basically, right? We call him a con man. He was conning for whatever sexual things, desires that he had.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I've only recently kind of been okay with talking about that because I was alone in New York City. I was very young. I was probably 17 years old. And some girl comes up to me and befriends me and says, oh, I want to take you you this audition. And da, da, da. He books all these huge campaigns, get campaigns, everything. Big campaigns and I was like, okay. And I got, like, the email and all the details, and I was, like, stoked. I show up at this giant brownstone on the Upper east side, and I remember this butler opens the door. I'll never get out of my head the look of almost, like, sadness that the butler gave me. It was like he knew what was about to happen to me and just had to, like, go along with it and put me in this little waiting room. And I'm in the waiting room, and I'm looking around, and I have my modeling book. And I really think this is a modeling audition. And I see on the walls, like, photos of, like, presidents with this man and, you know, private jets. And it's the most crazy thing I've ever seen. So many famous people on the walls. And I was just like, where am I? And then the butler comes and gets me. He takes me to this room. I'm walked into this dark room, and I am tripping. I'm like, why am I in this? There's a massage table over there. I start panicking. This short, weird guy comes out of the darkness, and I vaguely remember a woman, which now I think is that woman that, you know, everybody knows of. It's in the documentary. Today we announce charges against Ghislaine Maxwell for helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls. And, you know, he's laying on the table, and I'm like, oh, my God. He thinks I'm a masseuse. So in my head, I'm like, what do I do? You know? And I just kind of stood there frozen. And then I remember he kind of, like, leaned towards me and went to lift my shirt, like, or go under my shirt. And that's the moment where I knew that I'm a fighter. I don't freeze. I will fuck you up, motherfucker. You know? And I remember going, like, get the fuck off me. And I just came out like a. Like a. Like a dude. Like, I was about to rip his eyeballs out. And he jumped off of the massage table, like, panicking, and he's like, oh, no, no, no, no. Oh, no, no. You must have had the wrong. We got this mixed up. He starts throwing money at me, and I go, how the fuck do I get out of here? I start running. I see the butler, that motherfucker. And I go, where's the exit? And he was like, it's right over there. And I ran. And I remember running all the way from the Upper east side, like, down to Tribeca, like. And I never looked back And I was panicked and I never wanted to talk about it again. I excommunicated that fucking girl who recruited me. And I remember you and I would rack our brains and we would try to figure out who that was, because I had this guilt for years of not knowing who it was and not being able to speak about it or prevent other girls from ending up in that situation.

[Tom Hamilton]

Well, those were the days when you didn't talk about that stuff.

[Caroline D'Amore]

But also I had no idea who it was and I had no way of finding that out. Come a couple years ago, my ex boyfriend goes, he'd heard the story and he goes, caroline, he goes, if you saw his face, would you remember it? Because he had just watched the documentary and everything I said was verbatim. He was like, you know, the massage table, the pictures on the wall. What? Who was in the pictures on the wall? You know, all of it. And even the location of the brownstone. And when he showed me the documentary, I just was like, oh. I went white. I was like, that's him. Sure enough, yeah, it was Jeffrey Epstein. And that's also a big reason why I need to speak up about this David Bloom situation, because I have so much regret not. You know, I was only 17, so like, I didn't know to like investigate that motherfucker.

[Tom Hamilton]

You're so hard on yourself. Like, how are you supposed to be this like Sherlock Holmes and figure out is he doing this to other girls or was it really a mistake? You just went on to go live your life, you know, like, don't be so hard on yourself for that one. But I see what you mean about how, like, under this circumstance, you're not gonna be quiet for one second and do whatever you can.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah.

[Tom Hamilton]

With the power and the platform that.

[Caroline D'Amore]

You have to spread awareness on this motherfucker.

[Tom Hamilton]

Find David Blum.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah. David Blum did such a number on me that by the time it was all over, I didn't want to live. He was such a monster.

[Tom Hamilton]

I don't even remember the first time I met David Blum. I just remembered hearing about his him, like he was so in our inner circle. Cuz you would mention him and talk about him. Like, when did you actually first meet him? Like, where did that all begin?

[Caroline D'Amore]

At the Villa Carlotta. I moved into one of the most beautiful buildings, which you were obsessed with in Hollywood, right below the Hollywood sign. And it was a place for me to kind of. It was right after my divorce. I really needed a place to live so that I could, you know, be with my Daughter. And it was. I got super lucky because I got in on a Covid rate, like during COVID And it was just like a. It was just the most magical place.

[Unknown]

The Villa Carlotto, again for the non LA listeners, is that. That's old Hollywood would. It's a city landmark. Marion Davies used to live in that building.

[Caroline D'Amore]

That's James Qule, the veteran crime journalist who wrote a big investigative piece about David Bloom for the LA Times. He spent a lot of time at the Villa Carlotta doing research for his story.

[Unknown]

It was like a little bit of an actor's paradise. I saw one of the Oranges new black cast members there in the lobby the day I was there. I'm not going to say which one because I feel like we shouldn't be outing people's home addresses. But one of the characters you saw over the course of seven seasons was there. That's vague enough. You know, this is a place where people work in this industry and, you know, rely on their reputations to get jobs, whether it's acting, consulting, video editing, what have you.

[Caroline D'Amore]

A two bedroom goes for about $10,000 a month at the Villa Carlotta. Luckily, I was paying a quarter of that because I moved in after divorcing my husband of seven years during the COVID lockdown in 2020, when they were having a lot of trouble finding new tenants. I gotta say, the Villa Carlotta is one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen, dripping with Hollywood glamor and history. Even an insider like Hammy was totally impressed by my new home.

[Tom Hamilton]

I remember throughout that whole chapter too, like, was it like Julia Roberts was like staying down the hall in one of the big accommodations?

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, Julia Roberts.

[Tom Hamilton]

The whole place was like laced with wildly successful people.

[Caroline D'Amore]

So.

[Tom Hamilton]

And so is the executive at the record company. And this other woman was like this 30 year old, under 30 Forbes girl who started that company.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I remember looking terrible very early in the morning, sweatpants on, all disheveled and walking my dog. And Sean Penn was just walking right by me and he's like, hi. And I was like, hi. My neighbors, Julia Roberts and Sean Penn aside, the Villa Carlotta just seemed like heaven to me. I really found my groove at that place and I loved living there. We had piano nights and wine night, and the pool was exquisite. And there was, you know, coffee and breakfast in the lobby in the morning. And it was. It was so magical. And we had so many fun experiences there, you know, through such a scary time. Through Covid, you know, my daughter learned to swim in that pool. Like, it was just like a family for a bunch of people that weren't with their family.

[Tom Hamilton]

I forget that you were in there through the lockdown.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, I was in there through the lockdown.

[Tom Hamilton]

So you ended up becoming really close with everyone down the hall.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Oh, yeah.

[Tom Hamilton]

And that was your. That was like your lockdown crew?

[Caroline D'Amore]

Yeah, that was my lockdown crew. Everybody at the Villa Carlotta living there was like a dream come true for me. Then all of a sudden, it became my worst nightmare. I just remember I was by the pool, which I often was because I was working. Always by the pool. Why wouldn't you? It was gorgeous. You hear him laughing from across the pool, like, you know, talking to everybody. Seems like he knows everybody. He walks over to me, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten up and left. I would have run the hell out of the Villa Carlotta screaming at the top of my lungs, stay away from this man. He's dangerous. I would have called the police. I would have hired armed guards. I would have done anything to just keep that man away from me and away from my daughter and away from everyone I knew. But I didn't know what he was. When I met him, he had a kind smile and a super friendly demeanor. You know, he seemed like a really nice guy. And looking back, I was like Little Red Riding Hood being courted by the big bad wolf, and I didn't stand a chance. Why would you say that shit to me? Why? This season on Once Upon a Con.

[Holly Fry]

David Bloom was so good at what he did.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He was strategic about it.

[Unknown]

When he first started working for me, he dropped so many names. Oh, I'm so connected.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I know everybody.

[Unknown]

My wife, she's doing all these things politically.

[Caroline D'Amore]

She's connected to Gavin Newsom.

[Unknown]

Bloom strikes at people largely with money, and he goes after people with privilege. And, you know, it kind of shows that, you know, wealth doesn't insulate you from that.

[Caroline D'Amore]

David had a Bentley and a chauffeur one time when I was with him for dinner, and he had to take a phone call, and he came back, he said, oh, I was assaulting up for a night.

[Unknown]

I mean, my head was spinning. He was showing me his phone. Oh, look, I got Adam Schiff's number on speed dial.

[Caroline D'Amore]

David, was it you? I was married to David for almost 10 years.

[Holly Fry]

It was insane. The stuff he was doing was insane.

[Caroline D'Amore]

And I was trying to make sense of something that doesn't make any sense.

[Holly Fry]

Or to understand things that I could not have thought of in my wildest dreams to do.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He's pathologically. He's a psychopath.

[Unknown]

Like, a real psychopath.

[Holly Fry]

I was barely functioning, and I just had this realization that he will not stop until he kills me.

[Unknown]

That was the start of the cancer.

[Caroline D'Amore]

That David Bloom kind of planned. Five nights in Austin. Five nights we've been sitting here in Austin because we thought our fucking lives were gonna change. Oh, my fucking God.

[Holly Fry]

We prearranged that I would record everything on my iPhone.

[Unknown]

David, I want to know the truth.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Be honest. Look me in the eye.

[Unknown]

You've told me a lot of things that are different than the stories I'm hearing from these people.

[Holly Fry]

I chose to tell a different story because I didn't.

[Unknown]

They're called lies when they're a different story.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Charge David Bloom. David Bloom's a scammer. We out here, David. Nowhere to hide now. This podcast is dedicated to the memory of my amazing mother, Bonnie Major, who would be super proud of me standing up for myself. Once Upon a Con is a production of AYR Media and 32 Flavors, hosted by me, Caroline D'Amore Executive Producers Aliza Rosen for Ayr Media, Alex Baskin for 32 flavors, and Jonathan Walton for Jonathan Walton Productions. Written by Jonathan Walton producer Caroline D'Amores senior associate producer Jill Piesznik coordinator Malena Krolejewski Sound design by Tim Mulhern Edited and mixed by Tim Mulhern supervising editor, Victoria Chang Mastered by Victoria Chang engineering by Justin Longer Beam legal counsel for Ayr Media, Gianni Douglas. Our theme song, freshly Served, was written and performed by the incredibly talented Maddie Noyes and is available on her SoundCloud.

[Maria Tremarke]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremerked.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarke]

Each season we explore a new theme. From poisoners to art thieves.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarke]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Holly Fry]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Caroline D'Amore]

It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big, big news.

[Unknown]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Caroline D'Amore]

I, like, saw something that happened.

[Unknown]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Unknown]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Did you kill? Listen to the real killer. Season three on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Monster BTK concludes A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv.

[Caroline D'Amore]

He was not expecting that. He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Unknown]

To hear the final four episodes early and ad free, subscribe to iheart True Crime plus the latest episodes will become available for free every Monday. Monster BTK Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's chief product officer. If you're just as curious as I am about the way things are built, then tune in to my podcast Building One. I speak with some of the best product builders out there.

[Tom Hamilton]

I've always been inspired by frustration. It came back to my own personal.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Pain point, so we had to go out to farmers and convince them.

[Tom Hamilton]

Following that, curiosity is a superpower.

[Unknown]

You have to be obsessed with the human condition.

[Caroline D'Amore]

Listen to Building One on the iHeartRadio app, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.