True Crime Garage: A Killer Halloween /// Part 1 /// 880

Release Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Nic and The Captain

Episode Overview

In this Halloween-themed installment, hosts Nic and the Captain embark on a chilling tour through America’s most infamous serial killers and their haunts. With a beer in hand and signature dark humor in tow, the duo dissect the twisted lives of two shocking figures: Vincent Groves—the “homegrown” Denver serial killer, and Ed Gein—the notorious Butcher of Plainfield. The episode blends in-depth research, insightful commentary, notable case details, and reflections on the enduring cultural specter of these criminals. The garage is equal parts unsettling and engaging, offering listeners a classic balance of true crime horror and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[03:31]–[05:18] The Psychology of Serial Killers and Halloween

• Nic discusses society’s fascination with the “monster” inside people—how Halloween allows the public to celebrate monsters for a night, but the show’s ethos is to only “celebrate the monsters when they are defeated and when good triumphs over evil.”

[05:32]–[25:00] Case Study 1: Vincent Groves, Denver's Overlooked Serial Killer

Background & Early Murders

• Nic introduces Vincent Groves as an overlooked yet prolific Denver serial killer. He recounts Groves’ promising youth as a high school basketball star and his subsequent descent into Denver’s red-light district nightlife.
• Groves’ association with missing and murdered women begins early. Example: Jeanette Ben Becca’s body is found in 1978, and Norma Jean Halford (his then live-in girlfriend) disappears in 1979.

[08:00]–[13:41] Marriage, Murder, and the Tammy Sue Woodrum Case

• Groves marries Janet Hill, a union marred by frequent fights.
• The pivotal Tammy Sue Woodrum incident: Groves claims the 17-year-old girl overdosed during a fishing trip, but forensic evidence proves rape and murder.

  "The forensic evidence here showed that Tammy Sue Woodrum had been beaten, raped and strangled in court." (Nic, 11:49)

• Groves is convicted in 1982 but serves only five years due to model behavior in prison.

[14:08]–[18:47] Release, Suspected Serial Murders, and Downfall

• Early parole in 1987 leads to Groves re-offending—he becomes a suspect in the murders of more than 20 Denver women within less than two years.

  "By September of 1988...he's a suspect in the murders of more than 20 Denver girls." (Nic, 15:18)

• DNA links Groves to the murders of Juanita Levota and Diane Manera, earning him life plus 20 years.

[18:47]–[24:36] Legacy, Unsolved Cases, and Death

• Authorities posthumously tie Groves to additional murders using DNA and witness testimony.

  "Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey: 'In my 30 years experience, he is the worst homegrown serial murderer.'" (Nic quoting Morrissey, 22:20)

• Groves refuses to confess on his deathbed, dying of hepatitis C and liver failure on Halloween 1996.
• DAs and cold-case detectives suspect him in up to 26 more killings.

[24:36]–[25:20] Analysis

• The hosts reflect on how Groves’ physical size, athleticism, and addiction-fueled rage made him a particularly lethal predator.

  "Here you have an individual that is intimidating physically...plus his rage and plus the sickness." (Captain, 23:54)

[25:20]–[27:22] Beer Break, Local Lore, and a Trick-or-Treat Riddle

• The hosts riff on Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo), its seedy past, and transformation, mixing in light riddle banter to break the tension.

[33:03]–[56:09] Case Study 2: Ed Gein, The Butcher of Plainfield

[34:52]–[38:23] Childhood and the Making of a Monster

• Ed Gein’s formative years: isolation, a domineering mother who denounces all women but herself, and the mysterious death of his older brother (likely at Ed’s hands).
• After the deaths of his family, Gein becomes a recluse—his madness festers unchecked.

[38:23]–[45:09] Discovery and Grisly “Hobbies”

• Police find the remains of Bernice Worden in 1957 at Gein's farm: her body is strung up and “dressed like a deer."
• Inventory of horror: masks of human skin, bowls made from skulls, severed heads, furniture upholstered with human flesh, and collections of vulvas and other body parts.

  "Four noses, human bones and fragments, nine masks of human skin, bowls made from human skulls..." (Nic, reading from the Serial Killer Travel Guide, 41:15)

• Gein admitted to grave-robbing and murder, but the true number of victims remains uncertain due to the mix of exhumed and murdered bodies.

[45:09]–[53:17] The Legend Grows

• Drawing from multiple sources, the hosts examine how the truth of Ed Gein’s crimes is eclipsed by his enduring legend—exacerbated by popular culture and sensationalized retellings (e.g., Netflix’s fictitious “Monster: Ed Gein” series).

  "The legend of Ed Gein is probably bigger than the actual facts of Ed Gein." (Captain, 38:36)

• Ed is declared insane and institutionalized without a formal trial.

[53:17]–[55:26] Lingering Terrors & Cultural Impact

• Nic reflects on Gein’s enduring psychological imprint—from crime scene photos to the bizarre “dancing in the moonlight” wearing human skin.

  "Anytime there's a song that mentions...dancing in the moonlight...my freaking brain goes to an image of...Gein dressed in skin suits..." (Nic, 53:17)

• Discussion of the strange phenomenon of the “Ed Gein Fan Club,” merchandise, and the line between morbid fascination and poor taste.

[56:07]–[56:43] Closing Riddles & Episode Wrap

• Another riddle and a treat for listeners: the annual Pentonwell Palooa Ice fishery and raffle in Plainfield, recommended as a quirky, wholesome local attraction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On society’s fascination with evil:

  "There is a deep seated need in many of us, coded in our DNA, to not just possess the ability to recognize evil, but to attempt to understand the dark side of human nature." (Nic, 03:31)

• On Groves’ short prison stint for murder:

  "He had served just five years...for raping and killing an innocent 17-year-old girl." (Nic, 14:07)

• On Ed Gein's legend:

  "The legend of Ed Gein is probably bigger than the actual facts of Ed Gein." (Captain, 38:36)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |------------|--------------------------------------------|------------| | 03:31 | Serial Killer Psychology & Halloween ethos | Garage’s take on “celebrating monsters” | | 05:32 | Intro to Vincent Groves’ case | Groves’ background & early murders | | 11:49 | Groves’ Tammy Sue Woodrum murder | Forensic evidence and conviction | | 15:18 | Groves as suspect in 20+ murders | Post-parole crime spree | | 22:20 | DA Morrissey on Groves’ legacy | Notable quote on his brutality | | 34:52 | Introduction to Ed Gein | Background and family dynamics | | 41:15 | Inventory of horrors at Gein’s farm | List of grisly trophies | | 53:17 | Gein’s cultural imprint | Moonlight dancing image | | 56:07 | Plainfield local lore treat | Ice fishery and raffle mention |

Summary Tone & Closing

Staying true to the podcast’s blend of dark true crime and rowdy banter, Nic and the Captain provide both a disturbing tour of notorious killers and a sense of community—reminding listeners to “be good, be kind, and don’t litter.” The episode’s stories are outrageous and often grotesque, but the hosts’ mix of compassion, research, and irreverent humor keep the narrative compelling and accessible, even for faint-hearted listeners.

Stay tuned for Part 2: More chilling tales and analysis of America’s darkest monsters, brought to you with a cold beer and a shrewd eye for the truth.