Author: Twistedphilly

Episode 23 – Originally Published in 2017

Philadelphia’s City Hall was destined to be the largest building in the world when it was constructed, but we never quite got there.

City Hall cost $25 million to build in 1901, over $7 billion in today’s economy.  And it would have cost just as much to tear it down, which is exactly what the city wanted to do over 50 years ago because they thought it was a eyesore.  To me, it’s nothing short of magnificent, rich with history and turmoil, and seedy stories like you’d never believe.

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 22 – Originally Published in 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about abduction, sexual assault, torture and murder

Gary Heidnik was one of the most notorious serial rapists, torturers and murderers in the United States in the late 80s, and the boogey man of Philadelphia.  

On March 24, 1987, Philadelphia police received a call from a hysterical woman telling a wild, unbelievable story.  Her name was Josephina Rivera.  She claimed she’d been held hostage for over four months in a dirty house in North Philadelphia, chained in a pit with other women, at least two of whom were dead.  They’d been shackled, beaten, raped every day, tortured and electrocuted.  Gary Heidnik’s house of horrors began and ended with Josephina Rivera. 

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Episode 21 – Originally Published in 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about murder

Doctor Lois Farquharson was a psychiatrist at Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry in 1971 when her girlfriend, Gloria Burnette, murdered their neighbor, Dr. Leon Weingrad who was also a colleague of Lois’. Weingrad made life difficult for Lois and Gloria, in part because of his disdain for their relationship.  Whether they were at home or at work, Weingrad spread his negativity about Lois and Gloria, including complaining to their superiors at Byberry about their romantic relationship and Lois Farquharson’s abilities as a psychiatrist.

Although Gloria Burnette is the one who pulled the trigger, not once but three times, killing Leon Weingrad in the parking lot of their Society Hill Towers apartment complex, Lois is the one who was sentenced to life.  Lynne Abraham, who was an assistant district attorney at the time, argued that Lois was the mastermind behind the murder scheme, and treated Gloria like a puppet.  And although Gloria initially told police Lois had nothing to do with the murders, she testified against Lois in exchange for a lighter sentence, then recanted her testimony admitting she made it up for leniency.  And it didn’t matter.

Lois Farquharson was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.  Not conspiracy to commit murder, man slaughter, or even second degree murder.  Murder in the first degree.  And in Pennsylvania a life sentence means there is no possibility for parole.  In 2016 Lois Farquharson was the oldest living female inmate serving a life sentence, until she passed away in early January, 2017, at the age of 91. Through my research about Lois Farquharson’s case I learned about organizations in Pennsylvania that promote education and awareness about rehabilitation and reconstruction within our prisons, and advocate for improved qualities of life for inmates serving life sentences. For more information about the Fight for Lifers visit http://www.reconstructioninc.org/programs/fight-for-lifers/

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 20 – Originally Published in 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about homophobia and murder

In the 1970s, one of the largest employers in the city was the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry, or just Byberry as the locals called it. Dr. Lois Farquharson was a psychiatrist working at Byberry. She and her partner, Gloria Burnette, had recently moved to Philadelphia from New Jersey and shortly after Lois took up residency as a doctor at Byberry she got Gloria a job there as an aide.  Although Philadelphia celebrated our first Pride Parade in the summer of 1972, the culture of the city wasn’t entirely accepting of LGBTQIA+ persons.  Lois and Gloria were subjected to scrutiny, even harassment, especially by a colleague, Dr. Leon Weingrad.  Weingrad was also their neighbor at the upscale Society Hill Towers.

One hot summer day in August, 1971, Gloria had enough.  She followed Dr. Weingrad through the parking lot of their apartment complex and shot him three times at close range.  But it was Lois who did the time; Lois who wasn’t at the scene, Lois whom Gloria insisted was innocent of this crime.  Gloria pulled the trigger, but Lois was sentenced to life in prison.

Lois Farquharson was 48 years old when she entered Muncy Correctional Institute for Women in 1973.  And she was 91 when she passed away in January 2017, denied appeals and denied pardons, even as recently as 2014 when she was 88 years old. Why was this woman sentenced to life in prison when someone else planned the murder and pulled the trigger?  In part one we discuss the relationship between Gloria, Lois and Leon, the trials and Lois’ time at Muncy.  Next week in part two we talk with someone form the Fight for Lifers group, an organization associated with Reconstruction, Inc., dedicated to improving the quality of life for inmates serving life sentences in Pennsylvania.

TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Episode 19 – Originally Published 2017

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Philly author and public relations expert Irene Levy Baker, author of 100 Things To Do In Philly Before You Die. 

This book is an absolute gem, filled with the best of the best restaurants, museums, concert halls, everything that’s wonderful about the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.  Leveraging her experience providing tours for travel writers, whom are not easily impressed, Irene presents the gems of our city – some hidden, and some well known but not the way Irene knows them – creating a guide-book that’s great for visitors and equally as wonderful for Philly natives. Irene Levy Baker is funny and smart, curious, charming and I know you’ll love her as much as I do.

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 18 – Originally Published 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about child abuse and death of a child

While the “Boy in the Box” may be the most infamous cold case from Philadelphia, it’s certainly not the only one and tragically, it’s not the only one about children. This is the story of the “Girl in the Trunk” and the “Boy in the Bag” – children who actually had names – Aliyah Davis and Jerell Willis – but went unidentified for a period of time after their deaths, known only for the way they were found. They spent years without names, without families, without the protection they deserved but didn’t receive. Aliyah and Jerell were on the radar of human service organizations before their deaths, yet no one took action.  

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 17 – Originally Published in 2017

Trigger warning – discussions about murder

You may be familiar with one of the most notorious serial killers in American history: H. H. Holmes. But you may not know about the crimes he committed in Philadelphia.

Holmes spend the last year of his life incarcerated in Moyamensing prison in South Philadelphia. While the prison is gone and an ACME grocery store stands in it’s place, Philly is where Holmes stood on a scaffolding and spoke his last words before a noose slipped around his neck.

That wasn’t the end of Holmes legacy. Suspicious deaths surrounded many of the players associated with H. H. Holmes for almost 20 years after his execution.

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 16 – Originally Published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about abuse and murder

For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s a time for joy, a time for family celebrations and traditions. On Christmas Eve in 2002 in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Jean Wholaver and her daughters, 20 year old Vicky and 15 year old Izzy, packed Jean’s car for a trip to visit family for the holidays. They never made it to Jean’s parent’s house.

Their estranged husband and father, Ernest Wholaver, who was just a month away from a trial for allegedly sexually abusing his daughters, devised a plan to prevent his family from testifying against him. Instead of being tried for assault, Ernest Wholaver was tried for murder.

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 15 – Originally published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about murder

In the 1930s Philadelphia, like the rest of the country, was suffering from the great depression.  While the rest of the country was at a 15% unemployment rate, Philly was doing much worse at 25% unemployment.  With a population of about 2 million people, a half million people were unemployed in the ’30s, which created an atmosphere of desperation. As a result, Philadelphia was rife with opportunity for those who pray on the desperation of others to make money.

What began as two men trying to make a quick buck, running insurance scams and counterfeiting money, quickly became the largest poison ring in history.  The Petrillo cousins business was murder, and business was good.  With help from Dr. Morris Bolber – a faith healer, and Carina Favato – sometimes referred to as a marriage consultant, other times referred to as a witch, 16 people were eventually arrested for the murders of over 50 immigrant Philadelphians between 1932 and 1938. 

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 14 – Originally Published in 2016

Trigger warning – discussions about spree killing and gun violence

To recap part one, Sylvia Seegrist was a resident of Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb about 10 miles outside the city of Philadelphia.  On Wednesday, October 30, 1985, Sylvia brought an automatic rifle to the Springfield mall and in a span of less than 15 minutes killed 3 people, and seriously wounded 7 others. 

Sylvia was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 1975 when she was just 15 years old. Over the next ten years, Sylvia was institutionalized a dozen times.  In the years leading up to the massacre at the Springfield Mall, Sylvia’s behavior continued to decline.  She was frequently escorted out of local businesses for scaring patrons and making threats against society. 

Part 2 discusses Sylvia’s trial and incarceration, taking a deeper look at the mental health system with help from TwistedPhilly listener Jen.  Too often cases like these are sensationalized to focus only on the violent crimes, when we also need to consider the needs for mental health support in preventing stories like Sylvia’s.

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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