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A newly released prison file offers the clearest picture yet of Joseph Phillips—and confirms he was intensively questioned by the RCMP about the murders of his in-laws. Meanwhile, Laura and Shauna receive significant news in their battle to uncover the long-hidden police file, raising new questions about what remains secret nearly 70 years later. Note: Joseph's prison file was too long and too dense to include in its entirety in the episode. I have posted it on the Island Crime Facebook page if you want to see it in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than 67 years, a fresh tip comes in, which leaves Laura wondering whether police had another suspect on their radar back then. Also, throughout the series, Laura & Shauna have been pushing for the release of 'The Dead File.' In this episode, the case for and against opening up cold cases to the public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Shauna steps inside the infamous murder house in South Wellington, where the unsolved 1959 murders of her great-great-grandparents Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk, took place. The new owners learn about the house’s dark history and its connection to Shauna's family tragedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of searching, the police file on the 1959 murders of Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk has finally arrived, but it's not what Shauna and I hoped for. Over 100 pages of heavily redacted administrative paperwork instead of the real investigative file. Still, buried inside: new names, hints of an undercover operation, and a suspect who may have still been alive years later. Retired RCMP homicide detective Garry Rodgers joins host Laura Palmer to break down the crime scene, the killer's behaviour, and why this case may not be as cold as it seems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Janet Piper is the great-granddaughter of the victims, Lizzie and Curly Kostyniuk. In this episode, she speaks publicly for the first time about the man she believes committed the murders, a man who was her grandfather. A man who went to jail twice. A man who terrorized three generations of women and children. The episode delves into the intergenerational trauma of abuse, secrecy, and justice. Featuring survivor testimony and expert insights, it highlights the importance of uncovering hidden truths for healing and justice. Note: This episode contains discussion of incest and other forms of familial abuse. Some listeners may find the material disturbing. Please take care while listening, and consider whether this episode is right for you or those around you. This is a resource recommended by Professor Freyd. https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/for-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuse/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A double murder. A robbery motive that doesn't add up. And a family theory that's been passed down in whispers for decades. In this episode, host Laura Palmer digs into the suspect, Shauna's family calls "Bad Grandpa" Joseph Charles Phillips, a convicted predator with a grudge, a motive, and, according to someone who knew him, sudden money after the killings. Through long-buried psychiatric records, jailhouse letters, and a remarkable conversation with an 85-year-old who knew both the victims and the suspect, the story of who may have killed Andrew "Curly" and Lizzie Kostyniuk comes into sharper focus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1959, South Wellington residents Andrew “Curly” Kosteniuk and his wife Lizzie are found stabbed to death, and the killer is never caught. Host Laura Palmer reexamines the case through archives and family memories. New details from Margaret Kostyniuk’s psychiatric records suggest escalating family conflict and a key suspect connected to secrets that never made the papers. This series includes original news reports from the time, presented as radio news stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 1959, newspapers pile up outside the Kostyniuk home in South Wellington until neighbours find the house ransacked, the phone line cut, and the bodies of Andrew “Curly” and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kostyniuk in the bedroom. Police back then suspect robbery, but the coroner’s inquest and autopsies suggest a more complex story.  I've posted the full Coroners Inquest report, including autopsies, on the Island Crime Facebook page. And if you'd like to learn more about Dr. Crossland's life's work, check out his book: http://www.deathcalls.ca/ This series includes original news reports from the time, presented as radio news stories. As well, in this episode, you'll hear original witness testimony dramatized as all of the witnesses are now deceased. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the summer of 1959, Andrew and Elizabeth Kostyniuk, known to everyone in South Wellington, BC, as Curly and Lizzie, were stabbed to death in their own home. The case was never solved, and for 67 years, their names faded into silence. Now, their great-great-granddaughter, Shauna, has asked host Laura Palmer to take on her coldest case yet. In this first episode, Laura travels to South Wellington to learn about the world Curly and Lizzie lived in, a quiet, close-knit Vancouver Island community where doors were left unlocked, and everyone knew everyone's business. On the night of June 26th, Curly heads to the local store to watch a world heavyweight championship fight. Lizzie walks home alone. It's the last time they see each other alive. Was this a robbery gone wrong or something far more personal? Note: This season's theme song is 'The Sunny Side of the Street.' You can listen to the full original recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEd7g_gc6No Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Island Crime Season 9: The Dead File — In 1959, Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk were stabbed to death in their rural home near Nanaimo, BC — a double murder that was never solved and virtually forgotten for over six decades. Now, host Laura Palmer is reopening the case, chasing paper trails and reexamining evidence with the help of the victims' descendants, who have long suspected the truth is darker than the official robbery theory. This is her oldest cold case yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Island Crime Season 9: The Dead File — In 1959, Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk were stabbed to death in their rural home near Nanaimo, BC — a double murder that was never solved and virtually forgotten for over six decades. Now, host Laura Palmer is reopening the case, chasing paper trails and reexamining evidence with the help of the victims' descendants, who have long suspected the truth is darker than the official robbery theory. This is her oldest cold case yet.

Bree's friendships were deep and profound. She sometimes called her girlfriends her 'Chicas'. In this episode, some of Bree's closest 'gal pals' reflect on the good times, even as they wrestle with the side of Bree she kept hidden from them and why. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series.  'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account. If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“After the pain of this disappointment, her heart once more stood empty, and the succession of identical days began again.” ― Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary How does a restless, hard-partying city girl end up on Vancouver Island? And how does her fiery temperament shape her most profound relationships? Through the eyes of Bree’s former partner, we see a woman yearning for something deeper, an ache for connection that may ultimately hint at her tragic fate. 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account. Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she had sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and also allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This was a decision made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya. If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bree Gamble was known for her passion, fearlessness, and vibrant energy—a woman who seemed to live life in full colour until her tragic murder in 2021. The daughter of acclaimed Colombian filmmaker Jorge Lozano, Bree carried her Latin roots and artistic identity through everything she did. Central to her story is the rumbero spirit—a distinctly Colombian way of embracing joy and music even amid hardship. In this episode, I explore how that spirit shaped Bree — and how her early experiences and her culture influenced the choices she made in the time leading up to her murder. Thank you to Bree's father, Jorge Lozano, for permitting the use of the sound from his film 'The Tampon Thieves' in this episode. Jorge's films can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/jorgelozano Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series.  'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account. Bree's vocals on 'Wash Me Away' appear in this episode. You can hear the full song on Don's Soundcloud account Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she had sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This was a decision made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya. If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a woman described as exotic, vibrant, and passionate end up murdered—her body abandoned near an oceanside park? What secrets does the crime scene hold about who killed Bree Gamble, and why? This season of Island Crime opens at Beacon Hill Park, the crown jewel of Victoria’s parks—and home to dozens of peacocks. When I first visited the scene, they were everywhere: striking, untamed, impossible to ignore. In her too-short life, Bree Gamble seemed to share their restless beauty. Those who knew her say she was searching—for something, or someone—always just out of reach. The peacock, long seen as a symbol of immortality and the soul’s quest for enlightenment, becomes both metaphor and wish in this story. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series.  'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account. Thank you to Chek News Reporter Kori Sidaway, who appears in the series. If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.