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Cleveland, OH 
3.38 - Torsos

Explore a series of gruesome murders in Cleveland during the 1930s, where victims were decapitated and dismembered. Think Jack the Ripper, but from Ohio.

Summary

  • This episode discusses a series of gruesome murders in Cleveland during the 1930s, where victims were decapitated and dismembered.

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  • The murders, attributed to a killer known as "the butcher," involved both male and female victims, often from impoverished backgrounds.

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  • The murders were particularly brutal, with victims' bodies showing signs of chemical treatment and dismemberment.

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  • The investigation was led by Elliot Ness, who tried to apprehend the killer but was unsuccessful. The killer taunted Ness by leaving victims' remains near his office and sending him postcards.

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  • In 2024, efforts were made to identify more victims through modern forensic and genealogical science. The case remains unsolved, highlighting the brutality and mystery surrounding the torso murders in Cleveland.

Key Notes

Who is Jane Doe number one and what happens to her?

 

  • Jane Doe number one is a woman who is attacked and killed by a man with a scalpel while walking home in the Roaring Third.

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What is unique about the murder of John Doe number one?

 

  • John Doe number one is decapitated and burned to a reddish, leathery state, unlike the other victims who were decapitated but not burned.

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What sets Jane Doe number two apart from the other victims?

 

  • Jane Doe number two's body is found dismembered and washed ashore in different parts, with her lower half discovered three months after the initial find.

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How does the torso murderer's signature differ in the case of Jane Doe number four?

 

  • Jane Doe number four's head and hands are still attached, unlike the other victims who were decapitated and dismembered.

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What role did Elliot Ness play in the investigation of the torso murders?

 

  • Elliot Ness, the public Safety director of Cleveland, led the investigation and arrest of suspects, as well as aggressive operations to clear out shantytowns and protect potential targets.

AI Transcript

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