Author: Twistedphilly

Originally Published May 2018

Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including the death of a young mother, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

On Tuesday, April 29, 1997, 29-year-old Stefanie Rabinowitz and her husband Craig went out to dinner with her parents to celebrate the end of Passover.  After they returned home Craig and Stefanie shared a few beers, Craig settled in to watch the Flyers in the Stanley Cup and Stefanie went upstairs to take a bath while Craig watched TV.

Before he knew it, an hour had passed, and Stefanie was still in the bathroom.  Craig entered the bathroom to check on Stefanie and found her unconscious and unresponsive in the tub.  Craig Rabinowitz called 911 but by the time Stefanie was transported to a suburban Philadelphia hospital, it was too late.  Doctors were never able to revive Stefanie Rabinowitz.  This beautiful young wife and mother died because of a horrible accident, or at least that’s what everyone thought.

Within a matter of days Stefanie’s husband Craig Rabinowitz was arrested for her murder.  As if that wasn’t bad enough a Pandora’s box of deception blew open, revealing Craig to be a lying, cheating swindler as well as a murderer.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 52 – Originally Published April 2018

In Old City, Philadelphia, there’s a tiny little street that can’t even be called a street.  It’s an alley, barely wide enough for a small cart to pass through; Elfreth’s Alley.

Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited street in America.  Other cites like to boast they have the oldest street in the country, but we’ve got the street with the longest history of perpetual residents.  One resident is rumored to have been none other than Ben Franklin.

With just 16 houses on each side of the street, some dating back over 300 years, Elfreth’s Alley is filled with history, charm and ghost stories.  So put on your walking shoes as we take a stroll down a tiny little alley known as Elfreth’s.  Be sure to keep your eye out for the ghost of a revolutionary soldier who lost his life to a hangman’s noose.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 51 – Originally Published April 2018

Content Warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including discussions about addiction, relapse and overdose, as well as murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

During my research about the Kensington Strangler I found a case I’d never heard of before; the death of Allison Edwards.  Allison was murdered between the 2nd and 3rd strangler victim on December 3, 2010, in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia, about two miles from the other murders.  Initially there was suspicion Allison may have been murdered by the same man as Elaine Goldberg and Nicole Piacentini, but soon after her discovering her body police considered her death a drug overdose.  An autopsy revealed she was murdered.

Allison Edwards name almost disappeared from the headlines.  The story about the Kensington Strangler was bigger news, but one person made sure not only did Allison remain on the minds of Philadelphia police and the DAs office, she fought for justice until Allison Edward’s killer was caught.  That person was Allison’s mother Karen Emery.  This is the story of a 22 year old young woman, fighting to maintain her sobriety, build a career and care for her child while facing the constant pull of a powerful drug, and the story of a mother who refused to give up on her child, in life and in death.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 50 – Originally Published April 2018

Content Warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including discussions about addiction, sexual assault and murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

On December 9, 2010, a headline in the Philadelphia daily news read “For Hookers, fear of attack is a constant companion.” Hookers.  This headline reduced them to nothing more than what they did to make money, something I doubt would have happened if they were lawyers, doctors, or corporate executives.

These women worked the stroll, a section of Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia under the L train in North Philadelphia, and they were being hunted.  By the time that article was published, two women had been murdered.  They were raped, strangled, and left alone in trash ridden vacant lots.  A few weeks later a third body was found. Someone way preying on the women in Kensington, watching them, watching, and waiting to choose his next victim.  This is the story of Elaine Goldberg, Nicole Piacentini and Casey Mahoney, three young women who were victims of the Kensington Strangler.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 49 – Originally Published March 2018

On Thursday, December 9, 1965, a strange object was sighted over Canada.  This object passed into the United States, creating sonic booms as it moved.  Witnesses reported seeing fire in the sky, trailing behind a bell shaped craft moving eastward across the US until it crossed into Pennsylvania and landed in a remote village outside of Pittsburgh called Kecksburg.

For over 50 years people have tried to solve the mystery of what landed in the Kecksburg woods that cold winter day.  Locals who saw this object believe it was something not from our world.  Other’s believe it was a spy satellite, perhaps Russian, that crashed in our country.  Soon after it landed, state police and the military closed off a perimeter of the woods and hours later witnesses reported seeing the military leave with an object on a flatbed truck.  The oject was covered by a tarp.

Today people still question what landed in the Kecksburg woods, and I needed a little help digging into this mystery.  In this episode I’m joined by writer, editor and communications consultant Bob Gatty, who was a reporter outside of Kecksburg covering the story for his local paper in 1965, and Chris Cogswell, co-host of the Mad Scientist Podcast.  You can find out more about Bob on his website www.notfakenews.biz and you can follow Chris and the Mad Scientist Podcast on Facebook and Twitter.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 48 – Originally Published February 2018

There are so many elements that contribute to the legend of Groundhog Day and n this episode we’ll travel a circuitous route over a few hundred years of Pennsylvania history mixed with pagan traditions, Christian celebrations and Indigenous folklore.

Groundhog Day is the one day each year when the residents of the Keystone state turn to a little furry underground dweller to predict the weather. This is the story of how a recognized religious holiday became an event dedicated to a rodent who lives in a part of town called Gobbler’s Knob. (I swear I did not make that up!)

This episode is G-PG.  It’s safe for the little twisters and full of family friendly fun.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 47 – Originally Published January 2018

Content Warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including discussions about depression, mental health struggles, suicide and murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

In the early morning hours on Saturday, May 11, 2007, a teenage boy made his way through the dark, across back yards in Manheim, PA, located in Lancaster County.  He wasn’t on his way home from a party, or sneaking out after curfew.  This boy was fleeing from a murder scene, where he’d killed 16 year old Kevin Haines, and Kevin’s parents, Tom and Lisa Haines.  Kevin’s older sister Maggie, just home from college for summer break, managed to escape without detection

At the end of Part 1, Alec Kreider just confessed to the Haines murders.  Now in Part 2 we follow the police investigation to gather evidence and prosecute Alec, because a confession doesn’t prove someone guilty in a court of law.  How did Alec’s family cope in the aftermath of his arrest? How did Maggie Haines cope with the news her family was murdered by her little brother’s best friend? And what happened in 2010 after the PA State Supreme Court ruled life sentences for juvenile offenders are a form of cruel and unusual punishment?  Is Alec Kreider still in prison?

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 46 – Originally Published January 2018

Content Warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including discussions about depression, mental health struggles and murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

In the early morning hours on Saturday, May 11, 2007, a teenage boy made his way through the dark, across back yards in Manheim, PA, located in Lancaster County.  He wasn’t on his way home from a party, or sneaking out after curfew.  This boy was fleeing from a murder scene, where he’d killed 16 year old Kevin Haines, and Kevin’s parents, Tom and Lisa Haines.  Kevin’s older sister Maggie, just home from college for summer break, managed to escape without detection.

For a month Manheim Police and the Pennsylvania State Police worked tirelessly to solve the Haines murder, soliciting assistance from the FBI.  Yet their efforts yielded little results.  Until a 16 year old boy named Alec Kreider confessed to the murders.  Alec told his parents and his therapist he killed Kevin Haines, his best friend for almost a decade, and Kevin’s parents.  Alec didn’t give a reason, although he’d struggled with depression and what he called “dark thoughts” for years. In the Lone Survivor – Part 1 we review the Haines family murders, Alec and Kevin’s friendship, the after math of the murders on the community of Manheim, and Alec’s placement in a behavioral health facility before confessing to murder.  Part 2 will explore the events that occurred after Alec’s confession, the impacts on his family and the Haines family, especially the lone survivor of the brutal attack, Maggie Haines.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 45 – Originally Published January 2018

Content warning – discussions about racism and bigotry

If you’re not from Philadelphia, or the tri-state area, the word mummer may hold little connection for you.  But here in the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, there is an event every new year’s day for which some Philadelphians prepare all year long.  The annual Mummer’s Parade. Earlier this week I was chatting with a friend and mentioned the mummer’s parade, to which said friend replied “what’s a mummer?”  Sit back, put your feet up, dig out a few of those left over Christmas cookies because today, on New Year’s Day, you’ll experience a long running Philadelphia tradition.

From it’s history in Greek mythology, European pagan and Christian celebrations, mummery has been a part of Philadelphia since the days of William Penn.  And while those fanciful costumes covered in feathers and sequins seem like a thing of joy, modern mummer history is marked with racism and intolerance.  It’s a Philly tradition that some folks wish would disappear. Later in this episode I’m joined by  special guest Jeremy Collins from Podcasts We Listen To as we discuss the history of our home town parades, the similarities and differences.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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Episode 44 – Originally Published 2017

Content Warning: This episode contains adult subject matter, including discussions about domestic violence and descriptions of murder which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

The residents of Georgetown Street settled in for a cold winter’s night on December 24, 2014,in Paradise, Pennsylvania.  Stephanie Kilhefner, a young mother ran some last minute holiday errands that evening.  She said good night to a neighbor as she pulled into her driveway, tucked her children into bed later that night and left them dreaming of Santa Claus.

The next day Stephanie’s husband Dustin Klopp took their children to visit their grandparents for Christmas.  He told family Stephanie had a headache and chose to rest at home.  Before the day was over, Klopp contacted Pennsylvania State Police and admitted to murdering his wife Stephane on Christmas Eve, telling the police he “wanted to turn himself in.”  Both families were shocked; there was no indication anything was amiss in Stephanie and Dustin’s relationship.  But something was terribly wrong for Dustin to kill the mother of his children.

Special thanks to Brianna, co-host of the Murder Dictionary Podcast, for the voice over in this episode. You can follow Murder Dictionary on Twitter @m_d_podcast.

Domestic Voilence Support:

The Pennsylvania coalition against domestic violence can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-932-4632.  Their website is www.pcadv.org there you can find resources in your community, information about shelters and other support systems.  The national domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233.)

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show. 

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