Upper Left Corner: PNW True Crime

Tonya Harding was a talented figure skater who fought a rough home life, abusive marriage and having all the odds stacked against her to become an Olympic figure skater for Team USA. However, after her ex-husband was involved in hiring a hit man to injure Tonya's rival, she becomes infamous for her possible involvement. PNW Wine: Cinder...

In the early 1900's a German immigrant arrives in Corvallis, OR and begins a church. His beliefs and passion for his ministry attracted several well-respected families to join the church, but it wasn't long before the charming leader had pushed out all men, and drawn all the women very close. Soon the women were cutting ties with their families, and rumors swirled of "purification" rituals involving sexual encounters with the leader, causing the husbands, fathers and brothers to plot their...

In 1998, three generations of the Engebretsons set out on an Oregon Christmas tree hunt. When the young son gets separated from his father and grandfather, a massive search ensues that turns up nothing. PNW Wine: Ponzi Vineyards Pinot...

A Spokane man is gunned down in his own home, leaving behind the only eyewitness, his wife. Once the investigation gets under way, her suspicious behavior puts her on the investigator's radar, but so do some of the man's business dealings. This week's PNW wine: Arbor Crest Wine Cellars Cliff House...

In 1983, a mother arrived at a Springfield, Oregon emergency room with her three children who had all been shot. It wasn't long before people began to notice how detached and strangely she was acting. Was this mother capable of murdering her children, and why would she do it? This week's PNW wine: Shea Wine Cellars- Breakaway Pinot Noir Thanks to this week's sponsor: Anchor...

In 1996, Katrina Nash was a teenager who was receiving a mental health evaluation at an Olympia hospital when she walked away, and was never seen alive again. The case went cold until 2013, when another PNW case brings another potential lead to the attention of authorities. PNW Wine: Chateau Ste Michelle Mimi Chardonnay In honor of Katrina's memory, please consider donating to Team HOPE....

In the height of the 90's Seattle grunge music scene, an up and coming star named Mia Zapata is brutally raped and murdered in downtown Seattle. Her friends rally for justice, and honor her memory by founding an organization the offers self defense classes on a sliding scale fee. Meanwhile, the police work the case but it would take DNA advances to finally solve Mia's murder. This week's PNW wine: Ancestry Cellars Reminiscence Riesling Home Alive: http://www.teachhomealive.org/ Thank you...

Tennyson Jacobson and her family endured a harrowing home invasion on Mother's Day 2013 that ended with her killing the perpetrator to protect her family. In this episode, Tennyson and I discuss the event as well as the trauma recovery journey that she has been on for the last eight years. PNW Wine: Hawkins Cellar 2017 Underwood Mountain Pinot Noir Tennyson's Podcast: common GROUND https://www.commongroundthepodcast.com/ The Gift Of Fear...

McNeil Island in Washington State is home to a sex offender commitment center that was the first of it's kind. The island houses sex offenders who have served their sentences, but have been deemed as a danger to society, so they are committed to the island. In this episode, I take a deep dive into the history of the now closed federal prison that once inhabited the island for over 100 years, and the current state of McNeil Island, also known as sex offender island. Find out if texting 911...

In the early 1900's, Dr. Linda Hazzard moved to Olalla, Washington to build the fasting sanitarium of her dreams. However, with no medical training her treatments would soon be the cause of many deaths, making her Washington's first female serial killer. This week's PNW wine: Silver Lake Roza Riesling Thanks to this week's sponsors: Based on the Evidence on Apple Podcasts Blossom Boutique (blossomboutiquee.com) use code crime15 for 15% off your...

In the summer of 2015, two year old DeOrr Kunz vanishes without a trace while camping near Leadore, Idaho with his parents, great grandfather and a friend. This week's PNW wine: Elephant Seven Winery Yellow Bird Vineyard Syrah Thanks to this week's sponsors: Based on the Evidence on Apple Podcasts Blossom Boutique (blossomboutiquee.com) use code crime15 for 15% off your...

In the early 40's, a woman's body is found in Lake Crescent near Port Angeles. Her body was hard to identify, and this mystery woman became known as the Lady Of The Lake. Turns out, she was not only the mystery that Lake Crescent has been holding onto. PNW wine of the week: Cave B Estates Winery Cave Woman White Thanks to this week's sponsors: Based on the Evidence on Apple Podcasts Blossom Boutique (blossomboutiquee.com) use code crime15 for 15% off your...

In the early 80's an Indian spiritual leader and his followers moved in near a tiny Oregon town. It didn't take long for them to start causing problems, and quickly devolved into debauchery that included assassination attempts, murder of a member, and the first bioterror attack in US history. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Smile Brilliant: www.smilebrilliant.com Enjoy 30% off site wide at https://www.smilebrilliant.com/?coupon=upperleft#podcast Elite Executive Services...

In 1996, Angie Dodge was murdered in her Idaho Falls apartment. Within two years, a man was sentenced for her murder, but over the years it becomes clear that something isn't right. As DNA technologies evolve, Angie's Mom takes matters into her own hands to find the truth. To donate to 5 for Hope in honor of Angie: Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Angie-Dodge---5-for-HOPE-campaign PNW Wine of the week: Nefarious Cellars Consequence Thanks to this week's sponsors: Smile Brilliant:...

Robert Lee Yates Jr. had a normal upbringing, and grew up to have a large family of his own. Family man, church goer, and awarded army veteran was the outward appearance of Yates, all the while he was terrorizing Spokane as one of the worst serial killers in Washington State history. PNW Wine of the week: Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2019 Merlot Thanks to this week's sponsors: Choose Your Struggle Podcast https://www.jayshifman.com/choose-your-struggle-podcast Elite Executive Services...

Ian Eckles went missing near Liberty, WA in May of 2020. Ian's SUV was later found with another driver, and the evidence inside pointed to Ian being met with foul play at the hands of the man. After a massive manhunt, the suspect is in custody, but the authorities need help from the public to help their murder case and bring some sense of closure to the Eckles family. If you find anything suspicious in the Liberty area, including the areas of Teanaway, Mineral Springs or anywhere in the...

Before Columbine, a Springfield, OR high school had one of the nation's first school shootings. A young man with mental health issues took his anger out on his parents and fellow students in the late 90's. While authorities were able to use this incident for good, by creating protocols and coming up with new tactics for active shooter situations, two teens in Colorado were also taking notes also... If you need resources and support for mental health related issues for you or someone in your...

In the late 90's Mary Kay Letourneau became infamous for her affair with a twelve year-old student. This episode dives deep into Mary Kay's childhood and family drama, and the aftermath of her actions had on those around her. PNW Wine Of The Week: Rocky Pond Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Thanks to this week's sponsors: Gemmist Hair Enjoy 20% off your first order using code upperleft @ https://www.gemmist.com/?promo=upperleft&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Spring Smile...

Kyron Horman was last seen in June of 2010 at his Portland area elementary school. The police, FBI and search rescue teams scoured the area in one of the largest investigations in Oregon history, but turned up no signs of the 2nd grader. Ten years later, he is still missing and his parents believe that his stepmother holds all the answers to what happened to him. PNW Wine of the week: Two Mountain Copeland Vineyard Merlot Merch store is closing soon! If you want Upper Left Corner clothing,...

In the late 1800's The Vinson family relocated to Ellensburg, WA, and the father and son brought trouble. In the summer of 1895, a saloon brawl left two dead, and members of the town seeking vigilante justice against Samuel and Charles Vinson. Special thanks to my source this week: The book Ellensburg's Tree of Justice: The Vinson Lynchings by Howard D. Baumgart PNW wine of the week: Underground Wine Project: And Why Am I Mr. Pink Rose' Merch store is closing soon! If you want Upper Left...