Lise Olsen

This episode includes discussion of violence, murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault of a minor. Consider this when deciding how and when you'll listen. On August 24th, 1978, Edward Harold Bell drove to Pasadena, Texas, a suburb nestled between Houston and Galveston. He parked his truck on a street where a group of children were playing, walked up to them, and exposed himself.

This episode includes discussion of violence, murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault of a minor. Consider this when deciding how and when you'll listen. On August 24th, 1978, Edward Harold Bell drove to Pasadena, Texas, a suburb nestled between Houston and Galveston. He parked his truck on a street where a group of children were playing, walked up to them, and exposed himself.

One of the kid's fathers watched it happen, Larry Dickens, a 26-year-old Marine veteran. Larry ran over to confront Bell. He leaned into Bell's truck and grabbed his keys, attempting to detain the predatory stranger while his mother, Dorothy, called the police. She reported everything to the dispatcher as it all unfolded. She watched Bell pull a handgun from his truck and fire.

One of the kid's fathers watched it happen, Larry Dickens, a 26-year-old Marine veteran. Larry ran over to confront Bell. He leaned into Bell's truck and grabbed his keys, attempting to detain the predatory stranger while his mother, Dorothy, called the police. She reported everything to the dispatcher as it all unfolded. She watched Bell pull a handgun from his truck and fire.

He shot at my son, she said, begging officers to hurry. Bell shot Larry multiple times, but he was still alive and able to crawl into his mother's open garage. As he did, Bell walked back to his pickup. He sat the handgun inside and pulled out a rifle. He stalked back up the Dickens driveway and into the garage where Dorothy was holding her wounded son.

He shot at my son, she said, begging officers to hurry. Bell shot Larry multiple times, but he was still alive and able to crawl into his mother's open garage. As he did, Bell walked back to his pickup. He sat the handgun inside and pulled out a rifle. He stalked back up the Dickens driveway and into the garage where Dorothy was holding her wounded son.

Then Dorothy watched Belle put the rifle up to Larry's head and fatally shoot her son before driving away. With the murder happening publicly in broad daylight, police had everything they needed to find Belle. They made an arrest before he could leave Pasadena. Now, you might think Bell wouldn't live another day as a free man after that. But that's not what happened.

Then Dorothy watched Belle put the rifle up to Larry's head and fatally shoot her son before driving away. With the murder happening publicly in broad daylight, police had everything they needed to find Belle. They made an arrest before he could leave Pasadena. Now, you might think Bell wouldn't live another day as a free man after that. But that's not what happened.

No, he posted bail and fled to Costa Rica, then Panama. And he spent 14 years in hiding before being caught by officials, thrown in prison, and sending those letters to journalist Lisa Olson. The ones confessing to 11 murders. Welcome to Serial Killers, a Spotify podcast. I'm Janice Morgan.

No, he posted bail and fled to Costa Rica, then Panama. And he spent 14 years in hiding before being caught by officials, thrown in prison, and sending those letters to journalist Lisa Olson. The ones confessing to 11 murders. Welcome to Serial Killers, a Spotify podcast. I'm Janice Morgan.

You might recognize me as the voice behind the investigative docuseries Broken and the true crime podcast Fear Thy Neighbor. I'll be your host for the next few weeks, and I'm thrilled to be here. We'd love to hear from you. Follow us on Instagram at Serial Killers Podcast and share your thoughts on this week's episode. Or if you're listening on the Spotify app, swipe up and leave a comment.

You might recognize me as the voice behind the investigative docuseries Broken and the true crime podcast Fear Thy Neighbor. I'll be your host for the next few weeks, and I'm thrilled to be here. We'd love to hear from you. Follow us on Instagram at Serial Killers Podcast and share your thoughts on this week's episode. Or if you're listening on the Spotify app, swipe up and leave a comment.

Today, we'll dig into Ed Bell's claims and unpack the most shocking evidence Lisa Olson and Fred Page unearthed as we try to find out what's true and what's not true. We're so grateful to have Lisa joining us again today. Stay with us.

Today, we'll dig into Ed Bell's claims and unpack the most shocking evidence Lisa Olson and Fred Page unearthed as we try to find out what's true and what's not true. We're so grateful to have Lisa joining us again today. Stay with us.

By the time Lisa Olson and Fred Page are being filmed for the 2017 docuseries The Eleven, their investigation into Ed Bell is in full force. They think they've identified the 11 alleged victims Bell alluded to in his letter, so now the task becomes trying to corroborate as much as they can. Bell made a lot of claims over the years, and some of them contradict one another, so let's recap.

By the time Lisa Olson and Fred Page are being filmed for the 2017 docuseries The Eleven, their investigation into Ed Bell is in full force. They think they've identified the 11 alleged victims Bell alluded to in his letter, so now the task becomes trying to corroborate as much as they can. Bell made a lot of claims over the years, and some of them contradict one another, so let's recap.

In 1998, Bell wrote to two Houston-area DAs and claimed he'd killed seven girls in their jurisdictions. He named two of them, Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, best friends who disappeared together from Galveston in 1971 and were murdered. In 2011, after Lisa interviewed Bell in prison, he also sent her two letters.

In 1998, Bell wrote to two Houston-area DAs and claimed he'd killed seven girls in their jurisdictions. He named two of them, Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, best friends who disappeared together from Galveston in 1971 and were murdered. In 2011, after Lisa interviewed Bell in prison, he also sent her two letters.

That's when he took credit for killing the girls he called the 11 who went to heaven. Bell also claimed that he was part of something called the program. Here's Lisa to explain.

That's when he took credit for killing the girls he called the 11 who went to heaven. Bell also claimed that he was part of something called the program. Here's Lisa to explain.