TRUE CRIME with Bratterstein30 Apr 2025

Did BDSM Lead to Murder?

Kris Zocco’s trial for the reckless homicide of Kelly Dwyer was a twisted, haunting case that gripped Milwaukee. The prosecution painted Zocco as someone with a dangerous obsession with asphyxia during sex, citing testimonies from multiple women who described terrifying experiences where he ignored their pleas for air. Kelly's tragic death in 2013 allegedly resulted from one of these extreme encounters, with the prosecution arguing that Zocco strangled her—either manually or during a forced sexual act—then callously disposed of her body in a golf bag. The defense, however, argued that Kelly’s participation in their BDSM relationship was consensual, framing the case as circumstantial with no concrete evidence tying Zocco to her death. Yet, the chilling details, like Zocco’s 17-hour phone blackout and the video of Kelly gasping for air weeks before her death, struck deep. After deliberating for less than three hours, the jury found him guilty.Kelly’s family, devastated and haunted by the loss, shared powerful victim impact statements, describing her as vibrant, trusting, and tragically naive. The pain of seeing Kelly's private life exposed and her remains shown in court was unbearable, with her mother leaving the room during the most graphic moments. Zocco, already serving time for unrelated charges, was sentenced to 31 more years, making him eligible for release in 2065 at age 90. Despite his appeals, the conviction stands. Now, her family channels their grief into the Kelly Dwyer Memorial Peace Project, helping other women facing violence, ensuring Kelly’s life and legacy continue to make an impact.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(237)

He Asked for One Last Hug… Then Tried to Kill Her

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Melissa Dohme Hill with me today. On January 24, 2012, 20-year-old Melissa Dohme agreed to meet her ex-boyfriend, Robert Lee Burton Jr., outside he...

30 Sep 43min

An Evil Witch of a Woman : The Diane Downs Case

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Cheryl, Christie, and Stephen with me today. On the night of May 19, 1983, Diane Downs drove her three children, Christie, 8, Cheryl, 7, and Danny,...

28 Sep 23min

They Killed His Grandparents for $20,000... Then Tried to Burn the Evidence

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Shirley and Charles Severance with me today. In May 2014, Charles and Shirley Severance, both 70, were killed in their Sterling, Colorado, home by ...

25 Sep 1h

He Had His Whole Life Ahead of Him… Then His Best Friend Killed Him

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Aaron Davis with me today. In November 2022, 21-year-old Aaron William Davis, a recent Brigham Young University–Idaho graduate, stopped in Rome, Ge...

23 Sep 51min

Kenia Monge and the "Good Samaritan"

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Kenia Monge with me today. In the early hours of April 1, 2011, 19-year-old Kenia Monge disappeared after leaving the 24K Lounge in downtown Denver...

21 Sep 54min

Nothing Good Happens After Midnight : The Sarah Ludemann and Rachel Wade case

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Sarah Ludemann with me today. In April 2009, 18-year-old Sarah Ludemann was fatally stabbed by 19-year-old Rachel Wade outside the Pinellas Park, F...

18 Sep 52min

Three Naval Academy Graduates, Two Murders, One Obsession

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Kerryn O’Neill and Alton Grizzard with me today. In the early hours of December 1, 1993, Ensign George P. Smith, 24, shot and killed his former fia...

16 Sep 47min

Failed at 4-Years-Old: The Samiah Downing Horrifying Case

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Samiah Downing with me today. In December 2012, four-year-old Samiah Christine Cornell Downing died in Adelanto, California, after prolonged abuse ...

14 Sep 43min