True Crime All The Time Unsolved

PodcastOne | Episode: Presenting: CRIME HOUSE TRUE CRIME STORIES | Date: April 10, 2025

Overview of the Episode

This episode is a special feature showcasing a new podcast: Crime House True Crime Stories. Hosted by Vanessa Richardson, this show explores the most notorious crimes from each week in history, joined together by a common theme. In this preview, the focus is on notorious kidnappings, specifically the cases of Patty Hearst (1974) and Elizabeth Smart (2003). The episode dives deep into the details of these abductions, examining the societal impact, the motives, and the surprising turns each case took.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction to "Crime House True Crime Stories"

• Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson introduce the new show, emphasizing its structure: each episode covers two notable cases connected by a theme—“your true crime calendar.”
  • (00:26) “Every Monday you’ll go on an in-depth journey through two of the most notorious true crime cases from that week in history, all connected by a common theme.”—Mike

Case 1: The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst (1974)

• Setting the Scene:

  • On February 4, 1974, 19-year-old Patty Hearst is kidnapped from her Berkeley, California apartment by members of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).
  • The attackers use deception (a stranger asking to use the phone) to gain entry, then violently subdue Patty’s fiancé and forcibly abduct her.
  • (02:44) “They beat Stephen until he was barely conscious, then tied Patty up and carried her outside. After a brief struggle they forced her into the trunk of her car and sped away.”—Vanessa Richardson

• Why Patty?

  • Patty was the granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, media tycoon—she was targeted both as a bargaining chip and as a symbol.
  • (04:46) “An absurdly wealthy family like the Hearsts were the epitome of capitalism. By kidnapping one of their daughters, the SLA would make headlines and presumably a lot of money.”—Vanessa

• The SLA’s Unusual Demands:

  • Initially, the SLA seeks a prisoner exchange, then pivots to demanding millions invested in a food program for America’s poor, not for themselves.
  • (06:20) “In exchange for Patty’s safe return, the SLA wanted the Hearst family to invest money—millions of dollars—into a food program for Americans living in poverty.”—Vanessa

• The Hearsts’ Response and the Fallout:

  • Hearst family rushes to launch the “People in Need” food giveaway, resulting in logistical chaos and riots due to overwhelming turnout.
  • Patty, in SLA-supplied recordings, criticizes her parents’ efforts, heightening tension and raising suspicions about her situation:
    • (08:17) “In one recording from March 1974, she said, quote, ‘I don’t believe that you’re doing anything at all.’”

• A Shocking Turn—Patty Joins the SLA:

  • After almost two months, Patty sends a tape saying she has joined her captors, now calling herself “Tanya.”
  • (10:40) “In the recording, she called herself Tanya and claimed that she was no longer the SLA’s prisoner because she’d joined them.”—Vanessa
  • Her family doubts her agency, believing she is acting under duress.

• The Bank Heist and Re-Evaluation:

  • On April 15, 1974, Patty is filmed participating in an armed bank robbery with the SLA.
  • (12:09) “She certainly didn’t seem like a captive. Patty was armed with a gun and was a full participant in the heist.”
  • Patty later claims to be “a soldier in the People’s Army.”
  • Authorities now target her as a suspect as much as a victim.
  • (13:03) “All of a sudden, the authorities were less interested in rescuing her and more interested in arresting her.”—Vanessa

Case 2 Mentioned: Elizabeth Smart (2003)

• Briefly introduced as the second case in the themed episode, focusing on another haunting kidnapping and the effect of the case on public perceptions of safety and law enforcement approaches.
  • (02:40) “Another shocking abduction haunted the nation when the composite sketch of 14 year old Elizabeth Smart’s abductor was released to the public.”—Vanessa

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Vanessa on Crime House’s approach:

  • (01:23) “Think of us as your true crime calendar, telling you stories that occurred that week in true crime history.”

• On the impact of high-profile crime:

  • (02:49) “They were stories of fear, resilience, uncertainty, and changed the way we think about safety forever.”—Vanessa

• On the Hearsts’ desperation:

  • (08:46) “They managed to smooth things out over the course of the next month. By March 26, 1974, the Hearsts had spent $2 million and given away over 150,000 bags of food.”

• Patty’s voice from captivity:

  • (08:17) “‘I don’t believe that you’re doing anything at all.’”—Patty Hearst, quoted from an SLA recording

• Describing the turnaround:

  • (13:03) “All of a sudden, the authorities were less interested in rescuing her and more interested in arresting her.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:26 — Introduction to Crime House podcast format and themes
• 02:27 — Start of the Patty Hearst case presentation
• 04:45 — Strategy and motives of the SLA
• 06:20 — SLA’s food program demand
• 08:17 — Patty’s audio messages to parents
• 10:40 — Patty declares allegiance to SLA (“Tanya” tape)
• 12:09 — Bank robbery and evidence of Patty’s involvement
• 13:03 — Shift from seeking Patty as a victim to pursuing her as a criminal

Conclusion

This episode effectively teases the tone and depth of "Crime House True Crime Stories" by dissecting the complex saga of Patty Hearst. Through detailed narrative and the use of authentic recordings, the host emphasizes the ambiguity between victimhood and agency in high-profile kidnappings. The segment sets up the promise of further explorations into cases that shocked the world, reflecting on their lasting impact and the evolution of both public and legal responses to such crimes.

For more like this, the hosts encourage listeners to follow Crime House for weekly stories that shaped the history of true crime.