In the shocking conclusion of our three-part true crime series, we uncover the final days of Charles William Yukl, a manipulative killer whose parole failure led to a second brutal murder in 1970s New York City.

After convincing the system he was rehabilitated, Yukl lured an aspiring actress to his apartment under the pretense of casting her in a fake film.

What followed was a horrific repeat of his first crime, strangulation, assault, and deception, all while hiding in plain sight.

With disturbing psychological insights and haunting survivor accounts, this episode dives deep into the failures of parole boards, psychiatric oversight, and the criminal justice system.

It’s a devastating reminder of what happens when dangerous people are given a second chance, and how the system too often listens to the wrong voices.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/25/archives/-village-slaying-laid-to-paroled-killer.html

https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/people-v-yukl-893896295

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/03/archives/sexslaying-case-posing-questions-to-justice-system-sexslaying-case.html

https://mail.murderpedia.org/male.Y/y/yukl-charles.htm

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/spontaneous_exclamation

Tanenbaum, Robert K., and Peter S. Greenberg. The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer. eBook ed., Simon and Schuster, 1987.

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the life of Charles William Yukl, we explore the years that followed his shocking manslaughter conviction.

After serving just a portion of his time, Yukl was released on parole, and what happened next is a chilling reminder of how the justice system can fail.

Set in 1970s Manhattan, this episode traces Yukl’s disturbing reentry into society: his fake credentials, psychological manipulation, therapy sessions, and how he infiltrated New York’s struggling artist scene under the guise of casting a fake film.

And as he lured aspiring actresses with false promises of stardom, Yukl’s violent urges and delusions began to resurface, all while he presented himself as a rehabilitated model citizen.

Featuring firsthand details from The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer, this is a story of deception, danger, and missed red flags. If you're into true crime, serial killers, parole system failures, and 1970s New York noir, this is an episode you won’t forget.

In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we begin the disturbing story of Charles William Yukl, a classically trained pianist, teacher, and, ultimately… convicted killer.

From his troubled upbringing and intense musical training to his years of hidden darkness, we uncover how a seemingly mild-mannered man led a double life.

Based heavily on the book The Piano Teacher by Robert K. Tanenbaum and Robert Greenberg, this episode dives deep into Yukl’s past, his manipulations, and the brutal 1966 murder of Suzanne Reynolds. It’s a terrifying portrait of depravity hiding under a mask of weakness.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/25/archives/-village-slaying-laid-to-paroled-killer.html

https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/people-v-yukl-893896295

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/03/archives/sexslaying-case-posing-questions-to-justice-system-sexslaying-case.html

https://mail.murderpedia.org/male.Y/y/yukl-charles.htm

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/spontaneous_exclamation

Tanenbaum, Robert K., and Peter S. Greenberg. The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer. eBook ed., Simon and Schuster, 1987.