• Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder

  • Written by: CBS News
  • Podcast

Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder

Written by: CBS News
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • On April 22, 1987, 52-year-old Ruthie Mae McCoy called 911 to report that someone was trying to enter her Chicago housing project apartment through the bathroom medicine cabinet. Police thought she was imagining things, but when authorities finally checked on McCoy two days later, they found her dead with four gunshot wounds. Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder, revisits the real-life account of McCoy's strange death – one of the inspirations for the Candyman horror film. Hosted by journalist and Chicago native Dometi Pongo, this 6-episode limited series – produced by 48 Hours and CBS News – explores why McCoy's desperate calls for help were ignored, the surprising outcome of her murder trial, and the broader systemic issues of racial injustice, housing inequality, and the stigma of mental illness that surround this tragic event.
    © 2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Arts & Entertainment Social Sciences True Crime
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Episodes
  • The Strange Death of Ruthie Mae McCoy

    The Strange Death of Ruthie Mae McCoy
    Sep 18 2024

    52-year-old Ruthie Mae McCoy’s frantic 911 call stated, “They want to come through the bathroom.” Nearly three days later, police found her shot to death, her apartment breached through her bathroom medicine cabinet. In Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder, Chicago native and journalist Dometi Pongo uncovers the terrifying reality of McCoy’s murder, which was one of the inspirations for the “Candyman” horror franchise.

    Get early, ad-free access to episodes of Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder by subscribing to 48 Hours+ on Apple Podcasts or Wondery+ on the Wondery app.

    Subscribe to 48 Hours+: https://apple.co/4aEgENo

    Subscribe to Wondery+: https://wondery.com/plus/

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    3 mins
  • Left High and Dry: 1

    Left High and Dry: 1
    Oct 3 2024

    Calling 911 didn't get Ruthie Mae McCoy help. The night she was shot, police didn't even break down her apartment door to check on her. Her body was discovered days later. The bizarre detail that McCoy was killed by someone entering through her bathroom medicine cabinet caught the attention of reporter Steve Bogira who decided to investigate the crime himself. His 1987 Chicago Reader article: https://shorturl.at/scu3P

    Get early, ad-free access to episodes of Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder by subscribing to 48 Hours+ on Apple Podcasts or Wondery+ on the Wondery app starting September 26th. The series will be widely available everywhere else you get your podcasts starting October 3rd.

    Subscribe to 48 Hours+: https://apple.co/4aEgENo

    Subscribe to Wondery+: https://wondery.com/plus/

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    33 mins
  • Deadly Design: 2

    Deadly Design: 2
    Oct 10 2024

    Ruthie Mae McCoy wasn’t the only person who reported having someone come through her mirror. Host Dometi Pongo looks at the reality of life in Chicago projects and how the design of her building may have contributed to her death.

    Get early, ad-free access to episodes of Candyman: The True Story Behind The Bathroom Mirror Murder by subscribing to 48 Hours+ on Apple Podcasts or Wondery+ on the Wondery app.

    Subscribe to 48 Hours+: https://apple.co/4aEgENo

    Subscribe to Wondery+: https://wondery.com/plus/

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show more Show less
    31 mins

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