Fredericka Mandelbaum immigrated from Prussia to the US with her husband and small child. Peddlers in Prussia, the Jewish couple began feeling the effects of the growing anti-semitism movement. In the US they moved to "Little Germany". Marm learned to peddle quickly both legitimate and illegitimate wares. Opening her own haberdashery to front her fence. She lived and worked in the area until the 1880's when reform finally caught up with her by the hands of the Pinkerton Agency. Even after she was caught, she paid bail and then absconded to Canada. There she, oldest son Julius, and Herman stayed until Marms death.

Sources:

1. North Conway. Queen of Thieves. The true story of “Marm” Mandelbaum and her gangs of New York. 2014

https://www.mcny.org/story/extraordinary-mother-mandelbaum

https://www.wnyc.org/story/the-story-of-a-gilded-age-jewish-crime-boss-women-behaving-badly/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-jewish-german-woman-in-ny-became-americas-first-major-crime-boss-in-1859/

https://www.vegaspbs.org/blogs/community-events/march-11-the-queen-of-thieves-the-jewish-mother-who-built-americas-first-criminal-empire/

https://providenceathenaeum.org/media-archives/the-talented-mrs-mandelbaum/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-life-and-crimes-of-old-mother-mandelbaum-71693582/

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/marm-mandelbaum-queen-fences

It seems as though almost every historic hotel has a haunting or two attached to it. They are hot beds for paranormal activity, scaring and exciting the living guests who come for their own experiences.

Since it’s October, a time touted as spooky season, I thought it would be fun to take a break from murder and mayhem and talk about the spooky. Especially after the heavy case I spoke about last week.

Sources:

https://portlandghosts.com/the-heathman-hotel/

https://frightfind.com/the-heathman-hotel/

https://fhspost.com/7010/feature/our-paranormal-investigation-portlands-hotels/ https://www.fivestaralliance.com/portland-or/countdown-the-most-haunted-hotel-the-heathman-hotel

http://hauntedrooms.com/oregon/portland/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/the-heathman

https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/heathman-hotel/

https://ghostcitytours.com/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/texas/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/menger-hotel

https://ghosttexas.com/menger-hotel-hauntings-paranormal-ghosts/

https://www.concordscolonialinn.com/haunted-hotel/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/massachusetts/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/the-colonial-inn-concord

http://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/concords-colonial-inn/

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/maryland/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/maryland-inn-annapolis

Shawn Yamate was born and raised in California. Falling in love with the 60's era lifestyle, he tattoo'd his moniker above his eyebrows. Sick Boy. In and out of juvi, mental health facilities, and then prison from his late teens. His most recent sentence puts him on the inside for life.

Sources:

https://kpic.com/news/local/yamate-sentenced-in-court-monday

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/yamate-trial-day-5-defendant-takes-the-stand-in-own-defense/article_e5e25066-4178-5b1a-9fdd-37108deb8a7a.html

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gonzales-accepts-plea-deal-to-testify-in-murder-trial-of-shawn-yamate/article_fc96201c-5755-5187-86e4-7e72626349bc.html

https://kcby.com/news/local/yamate-denies-murder-charge-while-on-stand-during-trial

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/drinking-unsubstantiated-accusations-may-have-led-to-coos-bay-murder/article_72b04dc3-40d5-5e7d-a5be-f6b1b35e487f.html

https://theworldlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/yamate-murder-trial-day-2-3-lifestyles-and-gruesome-forensic-photos-unveiled/article_03beaa4b-374c-5e0a-ac8e-7e65d7587d0f.html

https://mugshots.com/US-States/Oregon/Coos-County-OR/Shawn-Kristofer-Yamate.68320286.html

https://www.localcrimenews.com/welcome/detail/66776068/shawn-yamate-arrest.html

https://rain-street.org/Shawn-Yamate-7l3521

Another set of women in Canada, missing or murdered. While the bulk of them remain unsolved, we did end on a known case. That doesn't make it any less tragic. Killed for $20.00, the perpetrator given a four year sentence. As always we try and shed light on the epidemic that is the MMIW.

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angel-edna-carlick

https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/yukon-rcmp-putting-out-another-call-for-information-in-death-of-angel-carlick/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-carmen-pitseolak-meyer

https://canadiancrimeopedia.com/missing_women/meyer-angela/

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Angela_Meyer

https://medium.com/@DaniBujold/woman-went-out-for-a-cigarette-and-vanishes-angela-carmen-pitseolak-meyer-2010-98ae97843ed9

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-hazel-williams

https://oublieesoudisparues.ca/en/cultural-mediation-kit/tools/factual-data/

https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/mmiw/profiles/angela-poorman

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/crime/no-sentencing-can-ever-bring-my-mom-back-says-daughter-of-sask-woman-killed-in-winnipeg

https://globalnews.ca/news/3095163/arrest-made-in-2014-homicide-winnipeg-police-set-to-release-more-details/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/it-felt-like-the-whole-world-collapsed-arrest-brings-closure-for-angela-poorman-s-daughter-1.3873729

Blaine Milam and Geoffrey West never knew each other. They were born years apart. The only thing in common is that both men were murderers. They carried the common theme of being tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Both men died the same day by their respective states.

At 18, Blaine murdered a 13 month old girl after torturing her for over 30 hours. She was the daughter of his girlfriend who received a lesser sentence of life.

Geoffrey was 21 and strapped for cash. He and his girlfriend robbed a gas station then executed the clerk. A 33 Patty Berry who left behind two young boys.

They both claimed to have found God before their execution date and implored others to do the same.

Sources:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/death-row-inmate-s-haunting-final-words-before-execution-for-baby-s-exorcism-death-revealed/ar-AA1NmEw7?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68d6cb14f77844b0b270e9bbda6e80c5&ei=74

https://kfmx.com/blaine-milam-execution/

https://www.kltv.com/2025/09/24/rusk-county-man-convicted-toddlers-exorcism-death-set-be-executed/

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/14/texas-court-criminal-appeals-stays-execution-blaine-milam/

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/texas-prisoner-seeks-stay-of-execution-on-claims-of-junk-science-arbitrary-sentencing

https://thearc.org/resource/ex-parte-blaine-milam/

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-5494/58378/20180803112031347_milamcertpet.pdf

https://www.kltv.com/2025/09/25/man-facing-execution-fatally-beating-13-month-old-girl-during-exorcism/

https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Milam-has-big-heart-sister-testifies-9260873.php

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-6518/164393/20201221163729092_Milam%20-%20SHC%20BIO%20Edited%20-%20with%20tables.pdf

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/double-execution-texas-alabama-execute-inmates-within-minutes-of-each-other/ar-AA1NjNVT?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68d6cb14f77844b0b270e9bbda6e80c5&ei=74

https://www.murderauction.com/auction/listing/geoffrey-todd-west-scheduled-for-execution-by-nitrogen-hypoxia-in-alabama-on-september-25-2025-for-the-1997-execution-style-killing-of-margaret-parrish-berry-during-a-250-robbery-after-23-years-on-death-row-als/870280

https://apnews.com/article/alabama-execution-nitrogen-abbee4a788ad61f5b8d7cfe0d7afe992

This episode is for the understanding of why it is that I do what I do. Why I write to those incarcerated and hear their stories. What brought me to this point? It includes a couple stories from my time working as a prison nurse. As well as insight as to what special accommodations are made.

Herbert "Herb" Mullin was born into a typical American family. He grew up well socially in California. He was voted "Most likely to succeed." Then, after high school, his best friend died, and he delved into drugs and religious rhetoric. He broke mentally, and his schizophrenia reared its head. He was smart enough to mask, even in mental institutions, which he found himself in twice. But the thought that he was meant for more, came to a head when the voices started. The voices told him to be the savior, but demanded sacrifice. He dutifully completed those sacrifices, only stopping when he was caught. He was 26 when his spree both started and ended. Spending the rest of his life, behind bars.

Sources:

Green, Ryan. 2024. I Hear Voices. A descent into the dark half of psychotic killer, Herbert Miller

https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/news/2022/08/19/herbert-mullin-dies-of-natural-causes/

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/herbert-mullin-serial-killer-sacrifice

https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Mullin,%20Herbert.htm

Jane started out in this world as Honora Kelley. She lived in poverty until her mother died. Her father had a psychotic break and subsequently signed her over to the state. From there she was sent to a poorhouse, then was adopted as an indentured servant. She did well in the family home and was loved by the family, taking their name of Toppan, hiding her Irish heritage by changing her first name to Jane. In her 20's she set out on her own in the world training as a nurse. From the start she did well, learning at an incredible rate. But with power, she learned she could control people's fates and immediately began killing. After being dismissed from two hospitals, she shifted to private nurses. She did well until she killed two generations in the same house in two months. Suspicions were confirmed with autopsies and Janes spree was over.

Sources:

https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/

https://thewestendmuseum.org/history/era/immigrant-neighborhood/jolly-jane-toppan-the-mgh-nurse-turned-mass-murderer/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/465836

https://www.alcatrazeast.com/crime-library/serial-killers/jane-toppan/