​In the winter of 1974 and 1975, downtown Los Angeles became a slaughterhouse.

A quiet, methodical predator known as the "Skid Row Slasher" hunted vulnerable unhoused men in the flophouses and alleys of Skid Row leaving behind a chilling signature: ear-to-ear throat slashings, unlaced shoes pointing at the dead, circles of white salt, and cups filled with victims' blood.

​While the press panicked over Satanic cults and the LAPD wasted weeks hunting a fictional, bigoted profile of a "tall, blond, deformed, and sexually impotent" white boogeyman, the real killer was a 30-year-old Black man named Vaughn Greenwood.

When the heat downtown got too intense, Greenwood slipped six miles northwest into Hollywood, murdering men behind closed doors.

​In this episode of Homocidal Tendency, Matt dives deep into the true crime history of the case, exploring how racism, classism, and homophobia blinded law enforcement, humanizing the eleven men whose lives were lost, and examining the dark intersections of queer survival and true crime in 1970s Los Angeles.

​Key Landmarks & Locations Mentioned

• ​L.A. Central Library (Flower Street): The recurring dumping ground where three victims—David Russell (1964), Charles Jackson (Dec 1974), and David Perez (Dec 1974)—were found.
• ​St. George Hotel (East 3rd Street): Where 67-year-old retired meat salesman Benjamin Hornberg was found murdered in November 1964.
• ​Pickwick Hotel (833 S. Grand Ave): Where 58-year-old Casimir Strawinski, gravely ill with cancer, rented a room to stay safe before being slain in January 1975.
• ​Golden West Hotel (East 5th Street): Where tough local regular Robert "Tex" Shannahan was found butchered in January 1975.
• ​Hotel Barclay (103 W. 4th Street): Where 49-year-old Samuel Suarez was discovered in Room 528 on January 25, 1975.
• ​North Kingsley Drive & North Vista Street (Hollywood): The residences of catering secretary George Frias and mechanic Clyde Hay, murdered in late January 1975.
• ​Laurel Canyon Boulevard: The site of the February 2, 1975 hatchet attack on William Graham and Kenneth Richer, leading directly to Greenwood's arrest near Burt Reynolds' estate.

​Sources & Archival References

• ​Primary Court & Police Records: California Court of Appeal record (People v. Greenwood, 71 Cal.App.3d 953); Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Central Division homicide logs and task force reports (1974–1975).
• ​Illinois Appellate Court Records: People v. Greenwood, 115 Ill. App. 2d 167 (pertaining to his 1966 Chicago conviction for the attack on Mance Porter).
• ​Newspaper & Periodical Archives: Los Angeles Times trial and investigative coverage (1975–1977); Rolling Stone magazine dispatch on Skid Row policing and unhoused vulnerability (1975); Drummer magazine contemporary queer investigative reporting.
• ​Criminological Databases: Radford University and Florida State University Serial Killer Database (Vaughn Greenwood case profile).

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​“Isn't it a little late for this sort of thing?”

​It’s 11:30 PM on October 31, 1957. In the quiet, pristine suburb of Sun Valley, Los Angeles, the trick-or-treaters have long since gone to bed.

When the doorbell rings at 13236 Community Street, 35-year-old beauty salon owner Peter Fabiano grabs the leftover candy bowl and heads downstairs.

Standing on his porch is a small figure wearing blue jeans, red gloves, and a cheap plastic superhero mask, holding up a brown paper sack.

​Seconds later, a single .38 caliber gunshot shatters the quiet of the hallway.

​What initially looks to the LAPD like a cold, calculated mob hit quickly spirals into one of the most bizarre psychological cases of the 1950s.

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​Sources & Archival Research:

​Los Angeles Times Archival Coverage (November 1957 – March 1958): "Beauty Shop Owner Slain in Halloween Mask Shooting," "Two Women Held in

Halloween Slaying," and "Two Women Plead Guilty in Trick-or-Treat Murder."
​Los Angeles Mirror-News & Herald-Express (1957–1958 Crime Beat Archives).
​

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Valley Division Homicide Files — Case Year 1957 (Victim: Peter Fabiano).

​Superior Court of Los Angeles County Official Plea and Sentencing Records (March 11, 1958; Defendants: Joan Rabel, Goldyne Pizer; Defense Counsel: Jerry Giesler).

​Deranged LA Crimes by Joan Renner — Historical analysis of 1950s Los Angeles crime and the Fabiano homicide.

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In the 1840s, the remote, mist-shrouded forests of Galicia, Spain, became the hunting ground for a very real monster.

When desperate women and children began vanishing into the mountains, the starving villagers blamed the Sacaúntos a mythical bogeyman who harvested human fat.

But the truth was far stranger.

This week, we dive into the chilling case of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, a soft-spoken traveling salesman who mounted the only successful "werewolf" legal defense in Spanish history.

We explore his brutal crimes, his shocking courtroom confession, and the modern medical evidence suggesting Spain's most infamous serial killer was actually living with a profound intersex condition.

​We unpack:

• ​The brutal reality of life and survival in 1840s Spain
• ​How Manuel weaponized his tailoring background to lure victims
• ​The forensic twist that proved actual wolves scavenged the remains
• ​The groundbreaking 2013 medical theory that reframes this supernatural myth as a psychiatric and endocrinological tragedy

​Sources & Further Reading:

• ​The 2013 Forensic Report: Research by forensic anthropologist Fernando Serrulla and forensic artist Margarita Sanín, proposing Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) / feminine pseudohermaphroditism as the biological reality behind Romasanta's life.
• ​The Court of Allariz Transcripts (1853): The original trial records documenting Romasanta's confession, the werewolf defense, and the forensic wolf-bite evidence.
• ​The Letters of "Dr. Philips" (Joseph-Pierre Durand de Gros): The historical correspondence with Queen Isabel II that successfully stayed Romasanta's execution based on the diagnosis of Clinical Lycanthropy.

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In celebration of October and spooky season, We are headed into the Hollywood Hills to uncover the tragic true crime history and heavy paranormal lore of 1920s silent film star Ramon Novarro.

We discuss his rise to fame, the agonizing isolation of the Hollywood "Velvet Closet," and the brutal Devil's Night murder that birthed a trauma haunting at his Laurel Canyon estate.

​In this episode, we cover:

​The Laurel Canyon Haunting:

Modern residents of 3110 Laurel Canyon Boulevard report suffocating, aggressive paranormal activity in the master bedroom, including sudden temperature drops and the sounds of a violent struggle. We also discuss the tragic 1980s murder of Ryan Kelly, a fan who previously owned the house and popularized the ghost stories.

​The Latin Lover:

We trace Novarro’s journey from fleeing the Mexican Revolution to starring in the 1925 blockbuster Ben-Hur, becoming a massive box-office draw for MGM.

​The Velvet Closet:

We explore the psychological toll of the 1920s studio system. Novarro, a devout Catholic and deeply closeted gay man, was forced to live a double life that ultimately led to extreme isolation in his twilight years.

​Devil's Night 1968:

We break down the horrific events of October 30, 1968. Drifters Paul and Tom Ferguson lured their way into Novarro's home, torturing the 69-year-old actor for a rumored $5,000 hidden safe that didn't exist, ultimately leaving him to die for just twenty dollars.

​Debunking Hollywood Lore:

We completely debunk Kenneth Anger's infamous Hollywood Babylon myth about the murder weapon. We confirm Novarro was actually beaten with a silver-tipped cane and asphyxiated on his own blood after being gagged.

​A Failure of Justice:

We detail the infuriating 1969 trial. The defense utilized a horrific "gay panic" strategy, resulting in Tom Ferguson serving barely six years and Paul Ferguson serving nearly nine years for the brutal murder.

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​Visuals: Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky. Check out the archival photos of Ramon Novarro’s Golden Age glamour alongside eerie, modern-day shots of the Laurel Canyon estate.
​

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Halloween night, 1958. Charleston, South Carolina.

Beneath the veneer of old money and polite society, company executive Jack Dobbins was forced to navigate the dangerous reality of living as a closeted gay man in the conservative South.

After a night out at a local mixed bar, Jack invited a 18-year-old Air Force airman into his historic Queen Street home.

The next morning, Jack was found brutally bludgeoned to death in his parlor.

​This week, we kick off our October spooky season marathon by stepping over the threshold of that Queen Street home.

We are untangling a web of 1950s prejudice, a chillingly calculated confession, and a justice system that put a murder victim on trial.

This is the tragic history of the Jack Dobbins murder and the devastating legacy of the "gay panic" defense.

​Research & Sources

• ​The Real Rainbow Row: Explorations in Charleston's LGBTQ History by Harlan Greene
• ​Archival issues of the News and Courier and the Evening Post (November - December 1958)
• ​Historical court summaries: State of South Carolina vs. John Mahon

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It’s the mid-1970s. Downtown Toronto is caught between the liberation of the disco era and a suffocating, deeply ingrained societal paranoia.

For the men drinking under the glow of the St. Charles Tavern clock tower, the Village is a sanctuary. But sanctuaries are only safe until a predator finds the door.

​This week on Homocidal Tendency, we step into the neon-lit grit of the Yonge Street strip to track a terrifying string of 14 brutal, unsolved murders.

We are breaking down the horrifying signature of overkill left behind by a phantom killer, the suffocating apathy of the mainstream media, and the ultimate, twisted irony of the Toronto Police.

While law enforcement claimed they lacked the resources to hunt a serial killer slaughtering men in their own bedrooms, they managed to find unlimited funding and manpower to launch the militarized 1981 Operation Soap bathhouse raids.

​We also pull back the curtain on the prime suspect who simply vanished into the fog, and discuss how the institutional rot of the 1970s laid the exact blueprint for Bruce McArthur decades later.

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Head over to our socials to see this week's visual assets, including vintage photos of the St. Charles Tavern in its gritty prime, the original composite sketch of the "smelly" suspect, and archival press clippings.

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​Episode Sources & Further Reading:

• ​Uncover: The Village (CBC Podcasts, Season 3): Investigative journalism by Justin Ling detailing the historical context of the 1970s Toronto Village murders and their connection to the systemic failures seen in the Bruce McArthur case.
• ​The Body Politic (Archives): Original reporting and community warnings published by the Toronto-based queer liberation magazine between 1975 and 1981, documenting the murders and challenging the police response.
• ​"Operation Soap" Historical Records: Press and historical documentation covering the February 5, 1981, Toronto bathhouse raids and the subsequent protests that sparked Canada's Stonewall.
• ​Ontario Cold Cases: Canada's True Crime Podcast: Historical timeline data and specific case file breakdowns regarding victims Arthur Walkley, Brian Latocki, and Alexander "Sandy" LeBlanc.

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** This is a Re-recording of Episode 40 the audio was just not hitting my standards **

In September 1988, the mummified remains of a woman were discovered concealed in Florida’s Green Swamp.

What should have been a standard homicide investigation was instantly derailed by a single, catastrophic scientific error on the autopsy table.

For 37 years, investigators chased a ghost a cisgender mother dubbed "Julie Doe" while the real victim's identity sat locked away in her DNA.

​This week, Matt breaks down the fatal 1988 misclassification of pelvic bone remodeling, the brutal reality of underground gender-affirming care in the 1980s South, and the agonizing five-year genetic genealogy battle.

Discover how the DNA Doe Project and the Trans Doe Task Force fought through sealed adoption records and modern algorithmic prejudice to finally reveal the 2025 truth: her name is Pamela Leigh Walton.

​Do You Have Information?

Pamela's murder remains an open, active homicide investigation.

Authorities are seeking anyone who may have known Pamela in Kentucky or Florida, or who might have information regarding her movements in the summer of 1988 after her July 6th arrest in Lexington.

​Lake County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit: 352-343-9529
​Email: ColdCase@lcso.org

​Crimeline (Anonymous): 1-800-423-TIPS
​Support Homocidal Tendency

​Episode Sources & Research Materials:

​The DNA Doe Project: Official case updates and genetic genealogy timeline for the "Julie Doe" / Pamela Leigh Walton case.

​Trans Doe Task Force: Information regarding the specific forensic misclassification of trans individuals, historical context of 1980s LGBTQ+ marginalized victimology, and the 2024 Meta ad rejections.

​Lake County Sheriff's Office: March 10, 2025, press conference and official case file disclosures regarding the Green Swamp discovery and physical evidence.

​C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory: Historical context on Dr. William R. Maples' 1988 anthropological examination and the misclassification of parturition pits vs. HRT bone resorption.

​University of South Florida / UNT Center for Human Identification: Details regarding the inaccurate isotope testing and the initial struggles with DNA extraction from the mummified remains.

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​On the night of March 23, 2004, 31-year-old Kevin Clewer stepped out into the neon-lit sanctuary of Chicago’s Boystown district for a casual Tuesday night of barhopping.

He was charismatic, deeply loved by his community, and completely unaware that a chance meeting with a stranger would shatter his family forever.

​The man went by "Fernando."

By 4:00 AM the next morning, Fernando walked out of Kevin’s apartment and vanished into the pre-dawn darkness, leaving the young man dead from 42 stab wounds in a horrific display of overkill.

​This week, we step back into the 2004 club scene to trace the timeline.

We break down the agonizingly cold police response, the devastating physical toll the unsolved case took on Kevin’s parents, and the relentless, 22-year fight led by his brother, Ron.

From a composite sketch taped to Halsted Street lampposts to a paralyzing legal dead-end in Puerto Rico, this is the story of a killer hiding in plain sight and the massive bounty designed to finally bring him down.

​Help Catch "Fernando"

There is an active $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man responsible for Kevin Clewer's murder.

• ​Chicago Police Area Three Detective Division: (312) 744-8261
• ​Anonymous Tip Line: (833) 408-0069
• ​Family Archive & Advocacy: View the composite sketch and read more at 4chicagokev.com.

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​Research & Resources Used For This Episode:

• ​The Clewer Family Official Archive: 4chicagokev.com (Primary source for family statements, timeline, and the Fernando sketch).
• ​Fox 32 Chicago: August 2026 Investigative Update & Detective John Campbell Interviews (Source for the Puerto Rico developments and current reward status).
• ​True Crime Podcasts: Audio research cross-referenced via Unsolved Mysteries ("Murder in Boystown", June 2022) and Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad (May 2021).
• ​LGBTQ+ Publications: Historical case tracking, cultural context, and community impact sourced from the Windy City Times and The Advocate (2004–Present).

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